As the 2017/18 Nigeria Professional Football League season approaches and with just 4 days to the opening matches we bring you closer to the 20 teams. Plateau United are the defending champions, while FC Go Round, Kwara United, Heartland FC and Yobe Deserts Stars have entered as the promoted teams from the 2016/17 NNL season.
■ Abia Warriors
Nick: Ochendo Babes
Established: 2005
Home Ground: Umuahia Township Stadium
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Rafael Everton
Captain: Austin Obaroakpo
Players To Watch: Sunday Adetunji, Anthony Okemiri
■ Akwa United
Nick: Promise Keepers
Established: 1996
Home Ground: Nest Of Champions, Uyo
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Abdu Maikaba
Captain: Ottobong Effiong
Players To Watch: Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, Victor Mbaoma
■ El Kanemi Warriors
Nick: Borno Army
Established: 1986
Home Ground: El Kanemi Stadium, Maiduguri
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Imama Amapakabo
Captain: George Michael
Players To Watch: Nura Muhammed
■ Enugu Rangers
Nick: Flying Antelopes
Established: 1970
Home Ground: Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu
No of Pl Titles: 7, (Most recent 2016)
Coach: Gbenga Ogunbote
Captain: Chibuzor Madu
Players To Watch: Itodo Ako, Daniel Etor
■ Enyimba
Nick: The People’s Elephants
Established: 1976
Home Ground: U.J Eusene Stadium, Calabar (Temporary)
No of Pl Titles: 7 (Most recent 2015)
Coach: Paul Aigbogun
Captain: Mfon Udoh
Players To Watch: Mfon Udoh, Ikechukwu Ezenwa
■ FC Go Round
Nick: –
Established: unknown
Home Ground: Krisdera Stadium Omoku, Rivers State
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Ngozi Elechi
Captain: Nelson Esor
Players To Watch: Dominic Junior
■ Heartland FC
Nick: Naze Millionaires
Established: 1976
Home Ground: Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri
No of Pl Titles: 5 (Most Recent 1993)
Coach: Ramson Madu
Captain: Julius Ubido
Players To Watch: Ebele Obi
■ Ifeanyi Ubah
Nick: Anambra Warriors
Established: 2015
Home Ground: Ifeanyi Ubah Stadium, Anambra
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Ladan Bosso
Captain: Wilson Elu
Players To Watch: Godwin Obaje
■ Kano Pillars
Nick: Masu Gida
Established: 1990
Home Ground: Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kano
No of Pl Titles: 4 (Most Recent 2014)
Coach: Ibrahim Musa
Captain: Rabiu Ali
Players To Watch: Rabiu Ali
■ Katsina United
Nick: Changi Boys
Established: 1994
Home Ground: Karkanda Stadium, Kastina
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Abdullahi Biffo
Captain: Nasiru Sani
Players To Watch: Tasiu Lawal,Musa Suleiman, Destiny Ashadi
■ Kwara United
Nick: Harmony Boys
Established: 1997
Home Ground: Kwara State Stadium
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: John Obuh
Captain: Dare Ojo
Players To Watch: Micheal Ohanu
■ Lobi Stars
Nick: Ortom Boys
Established: 1981
Home Ground: Aper Aku Stadium, Markurdu
No of Pl Titles: 1 (1999)
Coach: Solomon Ogbeide
Captain: Anthony Agbaji
Players To Watch: Anthony Okpotu
■ Mountain Of Fire Ministries Fc
Nick: Olukoya Boys
Established: 2007
Home Ground: Agege Stadium, Lagos
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Fidelis Ilechukwu
Captain: Austin Opara
Players To Watch: Chukwuka Onuwa, Sikiru Olatunbosun
■ Nasarawa United
Nick: Solid Minners
Established: 2003
Home Ground: Lafia Township Stadium
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Kabiru Dogo
Captain: Emmanuel Makama
Players To Watch: Suraj Ayeleso
■ Niger Tornadoes
Nick: Ikon Allah Boys
Established: 1977
Home Ground: Confluence Stadium, Lokoja (Temporary )
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Erasmus Onu
Captain: Aliko Mustapha
Players To Watch: Felix Mokum,Hussaini Ibrahim,Yakubu Alfa
■ Plateau United
Nick: The Peace Boys
Established: 1975
Home Ground: Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos
No of Pl Titles: 1 (2017)
Coach: Kennedy Boboye
Captain: Elisa Golbe
Players To Watch: Moses Eneji, Tosin Omoyele
■ Rivers United
Nick: Pride of Rivers
Established: 2016
Home Ground: Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Stanley Eguma
Captain: Festus Austin
Players To Watch: Emeka Ogbugh
■ Sunshine Stars
Nick: Owena Waves
Established: 1995
Home Ground: Akure Township Stadium, Ondo State
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Duke Udi
Captain: Alaba Adeniyi
Players To Watch: Ezekiel Thompson
■ Wikki Tourist
Nick: Bauchi Elephants
Established:
Home Ground: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Bala Nkiyu
Captain: Ibrahim Mustapha
Players To Watch: Zaharadeen Bello
■ Yobe Stars
Nick:
Established: 1991
Home Ground: Damaturu Township Stadium
No of Pl Titles: NIL
Coach: Muhammed Baba Ganaru
Captain:
Players To Watch: Mohammed Rabiu.
According to LMC, the 2017/18 season will start at all centers on January 14 and in the first stanza, there will be three midweek matches on match days 2, 4 and 5 while the midseason break will be from April 30- May 5 and a longer break for the 2018 World Cup from June 14-July 15.
Until then, sit back and enjoy the sight of your teams among the top 20 sides in the country…
NPFL Table | League teams for 2017/18 season
| Rank | Team | Pl | W | D | L | Pts | SF | SA | +/- | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
(1) |  |
Abia Warriors | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | |
(1) |  |
Akwa United FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | |
(1) |  |
El-Kanemi Warriors FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | |
(1) |  |
Enyimba International FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | |
(1) |  |
FC IfeanyiUbah | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | |
(1) |  |
GO Round F.C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | |
(1) |  |
Heartland F,C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | |
(1) |  |
Kano Pillars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | |
(1) |  |
Katsina United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | |
(1) |  |
Kwara United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | |
(1) |  |
Lobi Stars FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | |
(1) |  |
MFM FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | |
(1) |  |
Nasarawa United F.C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | |
(1) |  |
Niger Tornadoes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | |
(1) |  |
Plateau United | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | |
(1) |  |
Rangers International FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | |
(1) |  |
Rivers United FC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | |
(1) |  |
Sunshine Stars | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | |
(1) |  |
Wikki Tourists | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | |
(1) |  |
Yobe Stars F.C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
