The 2021–22 Nigeria Professional Football League was the 51st season of Nigeria's top-flight association football league and the 32nd since attaining professionalism. The season started on 17 December 2021 and was concluded on 17 July 2022.
This season saw Shooting Stars returning to the top-flight after a four-year hiatus, likewise Niger Tornadoes who won the National League play-offs. They were also joined by Remo Stars and Gombe United after securing promotion from the second division. Akwa United were the defending champions.
On 25 June 2022, Rivers United won their first league title with 4 matches to spare.
Kano Pillars were relegated for the first time in 20 years. This occurred as a result of the team suffering a six point deduction from the league committee and the club's poor form during the season, they were joined by MFM, Heartland and Katsina United. Remo Stars secured a continental ticket for the first time in the club's history.
Teams information
Clubs Note: Several clubs played home matches at other stadiums due to their regular stadia not meeting the league requirements or being banished by the LMC. Team Location Stadium Capacity Head coachAbia WarriorsUmuahiaUmuahia Township Stadium 5,000Imama AmapakaboAkwa United F.C.UyoGodswill Akpabio International Stadium30,000Deji AyeniDakkadaDanlami KwasauEnugu RangersEnuguIfeanyi Ubah FC StadiumAwka City Stadium 18,000Abdul MaikabaEnyimbaAbaEnyimba International Stadium 16,000Finidi GeorgeGombe UnitedGombePantami Stadium 12,000Aliyu ZubairuHeartland F.C.OwerriDan Anyiam Stadium 10,000Erasmus OnuhKano PillarsKanoSani Abacha Stadium 16,000Salisu YusufKatsina UnitedKatsinaMuhammad Dikko Stadium 35,000Azeez MohammedKwara UnitedIlorinKwara State Stadium 18,000Abdullahi BiffoLobi StarsMakurdiAper Aku Stadium 20,000Mohammed BabaganaruMFM F.C.LagosTeslim Balogun Stadium 24,325Festus Allen Nasarawa UnitedLafiaLafia Township Stadium 5,000Bala NikyuNiger TornadoesMinnaMinna Township Stadium 5,000Abubakar BalaPlateau UnitedJosNew Jos Stadium 60,000Fidelis IlechukwuRemo StarsIkenneDipo Dina StadiumRemo Stars Stadium 20,000Gbenga OgunboteRivers UnitedPort HarcourtYakubu Gowon Stadium 16,000 Stanley EgumaShooting StarsIbadanLekan Salami Stadium 10,000Edith AgoyeSunshine StarsAkureDipo Dina StadiumAkure Stadium 20,000 Emmanuel DeutschWikki Tourists F.C.BauchiAbubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium 15,000Kabiru Dogo
Managerial changes Not including interim management. TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of departureIncoming managerDate ofappointmentHeartland Hassan AbdallahResignation2 February Erasmus Onuh5 FebruaryAkwa United Kennedy BoboyeResignation 13 February Deji Ayeni 23 MarchLobi Stars Eddy DombrayeSacked14 March Mohammed Babaganaru24 MarchSunshine Stars Deji AyeniLeft for Akwa United23 March Emmanuel Deutsch2 AprilMFM Gabriel OlalekanSacked11 May Festus Allen11 May
League table
Results
Positions by round
Results by matches played
Statistics Scoring Top scorers
Rank Player Club Goals1 Chijioke Akuneto Rivers United191 Yusuf AbdulazeezGombe United16 Victor MbaomaEnyimba4 Odoh ValentineAbia Warriors155 Ishaq RafiuRivers United146 Andy OkpeRemo Stars137 Godwin ObajeAbia Warriors128 Zulkifilu RabiuPlateau United11 Tochukwu UdehNasarawa United10 Samad KadiriKwara United10 Ossy MartinsEnugu Rangers Leonard UgochukwuSunshine Stars
Hat-tricks +PlayerForAgainstScoreDate Chijioke AkunetoRivers UnitedAkwa United4–1 (H)20 March 2022 Victor MbaomaEnyimbaKwara United3–0 (H) 12 June 2022 Andy OkpeRemo StarsNiger Tornadoes3–0 (H)17 July 2022 Notes (H) – Home team
References