Will history repeat itself or will it be rewritten as traditional teams and non traditional teams slug it out in a battle of wits for who wins the 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League title?
History has always favoured the traditional teams like Enyimba int’l of Aba, Rangers int’l of Enugu, Shooting Stars Sport Club of Ibadan, Bendel Insurance FC of Benin amongst others to in the past always win except on very few occasions when a non traditional team upsets the apple chart to prove pundits and bookmakers wrong.
With about 7 matches to the end of the season, the usual suspects Rangers and Enyimba are in the mix again with the likes of Lobi Stars, Remo, Plateau United ready to give them a run for their money.
Last season it was Enyimba who powered their way to win the Super 6 after Bendel Insurance had won the regular season but fell short during the playoffs.
But this season, it is too close to call as only two points separates Rangers who are top on the league table with 54 points from 31 matches played from Enyimba and Lobi who are in second and third respectively with 52 points from the same number of games played, and four points separates the top team from Plateau United and Remo who are in fourth and fifth position with 50 points each with Remo having a game to spare.
This means that even any of the teams in the top five can win the league which is very healthy and making it very difficult to put your money or bet on where exactly the league title will go.
But from experience and my many years of following and covering the league, I can authoritatively tell you that either Rangers or Enyimba will win the title.
The ‘Peoples Elephant’, Enyimba particularly knows how to finish well. They have the experience and this is exactly when like Man City they hit their best form.
This kind of dramatic photo finish is really good for the league, especially at this point when Financial Assets management giant, GTI, the Sports Ministry, NFF and the Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye league board is giving Nigerians something to cheer with their efforts to reposition the local league to make it more viable and attractive.
The prize money for the league has been handsomely raised to N150m and winners will not have to wait for years again before they get their prize money, thanks to GTI.
Now, referees match indemnities are paid even before they leave their homes which is why we have better officiating now that ensures teams can pick points anywhere even away from home which was almost impossible in the past.
The likes of Tony Elumelu of the UBA group, Abdul Samad Rabiu of the Bua group are being wooed to invest in the domestic league which is a welcome development if they can be convinced, as that will raise investors and public confidence and ultimately trigger influx of foreign investors to create more jobs in the sports ecosystem.
The battle line is drawn, the dire is cast, the waiting game is on, the intrigue, drama, spectacle is all on as Nigerians await champions for the 2023/2024 NPFL season.
