20 Players With The Highest Goals In NPFL History | 2024

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) is the highest level of the Nigerian Football League System, organized by the League Management Company (LMC), and it is competed by 20 clubs across 38 match days throughout the season.

The league was formerly known as the Nigerian Premier League and it was instituted in 1972 with Jos-based side Mighty Jets being the nation’s first-ever top-flight champions.

Since its inauguration, the league has produced 21 Champions, with Aba-based side Enyimba being the most successful team in the league with 8 NPFL titles.

While Kaduna United’s Jude Aneke was the first player to score 20 goals in a season before his record was surpassed by Enyimba’s Mfon Udoh whose 23 goals in 2014 remain a record in the league.

Some players have succeeded in carving their names into the history of the NPFL over the years.

They have managed to give their all, and are still considered among the best NPFL players to have played in Nigeria’s professional football league.

1. Godwin Obaje

• Club: 6 clubs (Wikki Tourist, Ifenayi Ubah FC, Plateau United, Sunshine Stars, Abia Warriors, Enugu Rangers)
• Appearances: 181
• Minutes Played: 14,609
• Minutes per Goal: 215
• Goals: 68

2. Rabiu Ali

• Club: Kano Pillars
• Appearances: 234
• Minutes Played: 20,501
• Minutes per Goal: 342
• Goals: 60

3. Ndifreke Effiong

• Club: 2 Clubs (Abia Warriors & Akwa United)
• Appearances: 155
• Minutes Played: 13,438
• Minutes per Goal: 236
• Goals: 57

4. Ibrahim Mustapha

• Club: 5 Clubs (El Kanemi Warriors, Enyimba, Gombe United, Plateau United, Kano Pillars)
• Appearances: 156
• Minutes Played: 13,002
• Minutes per Goal: 245
• Goals: 53

5. Alimi Sikiru

• Club: 5 Clubs (Warri Wolves, Sunshine Stars, Lobi Stars, Shooting Stars, Remo Stars)
• Appearances: 137
• Minutes Played: 10,516
• Minutes per Goal: 202
• Goals: 52

6. Victor Mbaoma

• Club: 3 Clubs (Remo Stars, Akwa United, Enyimba)
• Appearances: 140
• Minutes Played: 10,461
• Minutes per Goal: 205
• Goals: 51

7. Anthony Okpotu

• Club: Lobi Stars
• Appearances: 86
• Minutes Played: 7,163
• Minutes per Goal: 171
• Goals: 42

8. Samad Kadiri

• Club: 6 Clubs (Bayelsa United, Sunshine Stars, Lobi Stars, Enyimba, Kwara United, Remo Stars)
• Appearances: 171
• Minutes Played: 12,395
• Minutes per Goal: 295
• Goals: 42

9. Chukwuemeka Obioma

• Club: 3 Clubs (Enyimba, FC Heartland, Abia Warriors, Enyimba)
• Appearances: 85
• Minutes Played: 6,180
• Minutes per Goal: 158
• Goals: 39

10. Mfon Udoh

• Club: 2 Clubs (Enyimba & Akwa United)
• Appearances: 124
• Minutes Played: 8,662
• Minutes per Goal: 222
• Goals: 39

11. Chinedu Ohanachom

• Club: 6 Clubs (FC Taraba, El Kanemi Warriors, Enyimba, Yobe Desert Stars, FC Heartland, Nasarawa United,)
• Appearances: 171
• Minutes Played: 13,494
• Minutes per Goal: 375
• Goals: 36

12. Friday Ubong

• Club: Akwa United
• Appearances: 201
• Minutes Played: 16,010
• Minutes per Goal: 445
• Goals: 36

13. Sunday Adetunji

• Club: 6 Clubs (El Kanemi Warriors, Shooting Stars, Abia Warriors, Lobi Stars, Plateau United, Rivers United)
• Appearances: 92
• Minutes Played: 7,230
• Minutes per Goal: 207
• Goals: 35

14. Godwin Aguda

• Club: 2 Clubs (Enugu Rangers, Rivers United)
• Appearances: 146
• Minutes Played: 12,514
• Minutes per Goal: 358
• Goals: 35

15. Junior Lokosa

• Club: 4 Clubs (Kano Pillars, Kwara United, Remo Stars, Sporting Lagos)
• Appearances: 75
• Minutes Played: 5,319
• Minutes per Goal: 156
• Goals: 34

16. Chijoke Nnamdi Akuneto

• Club: 4 Clubs (MFM FC, FC Heartland, Rivers United, Enyimba)
• Appearances: 124
• Minutes Played: 8,213
• Minutes per Goal: 242
• Goals: 34

17. Nwangwa Nyima

• Club: 4 Clubs (Shooting Stars, Lobi Stars Kano Pillars, Rivers United)
• Appearances: 174
• Minutes Played: 14,691
• Minutes per Goal: 432
• Goals: 34

18. Hassan Adamu

• Club: 3 Clubs (Kano Pillars, Nasarawa United, Katsina United)
• Appearances: 118
• Minutes Played: 7,779
• Minutes per Goal: 259
• Goals: 30

19. Ossy Martins

• Club: 7 Clubs (Kwara United, Ifeanyi Ubah, ABS FC, Abia Warriors, Rivers United, Lobi Stars, Enugu Rangers)
• Appearances: 119
• Minutes Played: 8,741
• Minutes per Goal: 291
• Goals: 30

20. Abdulrahman Bashir

• Club: 6 Clubs (Enyimba, Lobi Stars, Nasarawa United, Plateau United, Wikki Tourists, Sunshine Stars)
• Appearances: 131
• Minutes Played: 9,842
• Minutes per Goal: 328
• Goals: 30

Top NPFL Strikers in History

Peter Ijeh – (1999-2012, Goals: 14, Trophies: 9, Clubs: 8)

In a league where there’s little or no hiding place for strikers, Peter Ijeh carved a career for himself playing for NITEL United and Julius Berger of Lagos before a move to the Allsvenskan league in 2001 where he went on to become a cult hero.

The Scandinavian King, Ijeh, defied the odds to become the highest goal-scorer in the 1999-2000 campaign, having terrorized defenders with his pace and composure scoring 14 goals while playing for Julius Berger of Lagos.

Following his move to Sweden, he quickly hit the ground running with 38 goals in 60 appearances over three seasons winning trophies and crowned the highest goal-scorer award in 2002, scoring 24 goals.

Orok Akarandut – (Goals: 17)

The 2009 season witnessed the emergence of Akarandut as one of the most lethal NPFL strikers with Akwa United finishing as the highest goal-scorer with 17 goals.

Following his goal-scoring feat with the Uyo-based side, Orok left the shores of Nigeria to sign for Tunisian Ligue 1 side CS Sfax. The veteran forward may not have won the league with Akwa United, but he’s definitely one of the most lethal strikers in the league.

Ishaya Jatau -(Clubs: 2, Goals: 17, Trophies: 1)

Those who saw Jatau graced the pitch in the 90s will not argue about the fact that he remains one of the iconic NPFL strikers. Jatau had the luxury of being the highest goal-scorer when the Nigerian league transitioned from amateur to now supposed professional league in 1990.

While playing for one of the country’s most iconic club sides Iwuanyanwu Nationale in the 90s, he won the league and scored 17 goals to emerge as the first highest goal-scorer in the league.

Victor Namo – (2006-2014, Goals: 18, Trophies: 2)

Namo’s name will surely be remembered amongst Kano Pillars fans as the striker who helped them win their first-ever and second top-flight league in the 2007-08 and 2011-12 campaigns.

After a successful career with the Masu Gida where he played from 2006-2012, helping the club win two league titles, and also very active in front of goal in the CAF Champions League where he finished the campaign with 7 goals.

In his debut season at Nasarawa United, he hit the ground running instantly and finished the season as the top-scorer in the league with 18 goals before he left for Libya in 2014.

READ ALSO | NPFL: 10 Goalkeepers With Most Clean Sheets 2021

Jude Aneke – (Goals: 20)

A great number of brilliant strikers have over the years graced the NPFL with their lethal goal-scoring ability, as such, Aneke is definitely one amongst the fantastic bunch that has dazzled the league with a rain of goals.

He joined Kaduna United during the 2009-10 season from lowly Anambra United, where he scored 10 goals in the league and also won the FA Cup.

While at Kaduna United he broke the one-year-old record of Ahmed Musa by scoring his 19th and 20th goal in the league a feat that earned him a place on the National team.

Ahmed Musa – (Goals: 18)

The Super Eagles captain became the youngest top-scorer in the NPFL at the age of 18 with 18 goals in the 2009-10 season to surpass Ishaya Jatau’s 17 goals in the league.

Though Musa couldn’t help the Sai Masu Kida win the league that season, he carved a name for himself as the new kid on the block and as well inked his name in the history of the league as one of the best NPFL strikers ever

Following his outstanding goal-scoring campaign with Kano Pillars, Musa was signed by VV Venlo where he hit the ground running for the Dutch side scoring 8 goals in 38 appearances.

Mfon Udoh – (Clubs: 5, Goals: 23, Trophies: 3)

Mfon is arguably Nigeria Professional Football League’s most successful striker since the top-flight championship was instituted in 1972.

In the 2013-14 season Udoh defies the odds by scoring a record 23 goals for the People’s Elephant of Aba, which won him three awards ‘The Golden Boots’ as the league top-scorer, the ‘NPFL Player of the Season, and the ‘League Bloggers Player of the Season.’

Mfon’s form and success at Enyimba got him nominated for the CAF Award at the end of the year, after emerging as the highest goal-scorer in Enyimba’s CAF Champions League campaign in 2016 before he left for Akwa United.

Victor Ezeji – (1996-2015, Goals: 16, Trophies: 4)

Ezeji is the most decorated player in the domestic league with an exceptional career that spanned 20 years, winning a lot of trophies and personal awards with 148 total goals scored before he retired.

The accounting graduate had an incredible football career in the league playing for teams like Enyimba, Dolphins, and Heartlands amongst other teams.

Victor won two CAF Champions League with Enyimba for the first time in 2003, the Federations Cup, and league titles with Dolphins in 2006-2007. He was also voted the ‘Most Valuable Player in the League and the Federations Cup’ in the same year whilst at Dolphins.

READ ALSO | 6 Of The Highest Paid Players In NPFL 2021

Joetex Frimpong – (2002-2013, Goals: 16, Trophies: 7, Clubs: 7)

Frimpong is one of the best foreign imports to ever graced the Nigerian Professional League with his goal-scoring ability for El-Kanemi and Enyimba FC between 2002-2006 for both clubs.

He distinguished himself as a lethal goal-scorer in the league with the Maiduguri-based side El-Kanemi in 2002, scoring 16 goals before he moved to Enyimba where he won quite a number of trophies.

For fact’s sake, while playing for Enyimba, the ex-Ghanaian forward won two CAF Champions League titles, two league titles, one FA Cup, and one Super Cup, before he moved to Tunisia in 2006.

Honorable Mentions:

Arthur Moses

Paul Kpoughoul

Endurance Idahor

Kabiru Alausa

Emem Eduok

Gbolahan Salami

NPFL Top scorers from 1990 To 2019

FAQ

Who is the highest goalscorer in NPFL 2022

• C . Akuneto Rivers United 19 goals
• V.Mbaoma Enyimba 16 goals
• Y. Abdulazeez Gombe’s 16 goals
• Ishaq Rafiu Rivers United 14 goals
• A.Okpe Remo Stars 13
• G.Obaje Abia Warriors 13

Which club has won the NPFL most?

Enyimba F.C. (8 titles)

Which is the most successful club in Nigeria?

Enyimba FC

Which football academy is the best in Nigeria?

• Midas Football Academy.
• Lagos Tigers FC.
• Kwara State Football Academy.
• Pepsi Football Academy (PFA)
• The International (Sports) Academy (TIA)
• Barcelona Football Academy (FCBEscola)
• Papilo Football Academy.
• SIAONE Soccer Academy.

Which NPFL club is the richest?

Ifeanyi Ubah F.C.

Ifeanyi Ubah F.C. is the wealthiest team in Nigeria. It is owned by famous politician and Businessman Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi.