NPFL table 2025/26 updated to matchday 35. Enugu Rangers lead on 59 pts with Rivers United one point behind. Full standings, top scorers and relegation battle.
The NPFL table 2025/26 shows Enugu Rangers leading the title race after 35 matchdays, with Rivers United one point behind and three fixtures remaining. The season runs until 24 May 2026, meaning every point now counts as Nigerian football’s top flight reaches its climax. Below you will find the live standings, top scorers, relegation picture, and a full analysis of what is still at stake.
Whether you are following the title race, tracking the relegation battle, or looking for NPFL betting angles, this page is updated after every matchday. For the best Nigerian betting sites to wager on NPFL fixtures, visit our best NPFL betting sites guide.
Updated to matchday 35 (19 April 2026). Three matches remaining for all clubs.
| # | Club | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enugu Rangers 🏆 | 35 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 41 | 25 | +16 | 59 |
| 2 | Rivers United | 35 | 16 | 10 | 9 | 35 | 29 | +6 | 58 |
| 3 | Ikorodu City | 35 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 38 | 32 | +6 | 55 |
| 4 | Abia Warriors | 35 | 16 | 7 | 12 | 30 | 27 | +3 | 55 |
| 5 | Shooting Stars | 35 | 16 | 6 | 13 | 37 | 37 | 0 | 54 |
| 6 | Nasarawa United | 35 | 15 | 8 | 12 | 34 | 28 | +6 | 53 |
| 7 | Bendel Insurance | 35 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 41 | 35 | +6 | 52 |
| 8 | Katsina United | 35 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 32 | 34 | -2 | 49 |
| 9 | Plateau United | 35 | 14 | 5 | 16 | 38 | 38 | 0 | 47 |
| 10 | Barau | 35 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 28 | 29 | -1 | 46 |
| 11 | El-Kanemi Warriors | 35 | 13 | 7 | 15 | 27 | 40 | -13 | 46 |
| 12 | Kano Pillars | 35 | 14 | 6 | 15 | 32 | 36 | -4 | 45 |
| 13 | Enyimba | 35 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 39 | 39 | 0 | 43 |
| 14 | Niger Tornadoes | 35 | 12 | 7 | 16 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 43 |
| 15 | Kwara United | 35 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 28 | 30 | -2 | 43 |
| 16 | Remo Stars | 35 | 13 | 4 | 18 | 38 | 43 | -5 | 43 |
| 17 | Warri Wolves | 35 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 33 | 39 | -6 | 43 |
| 18 | Kun Khalifat | 35 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 35 | 38 | -3 | 40 |
| 19 | Bayelsa United | 35 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 32 | 38 | -6 | 40 |
| 20 | Wikki Tourists | 35 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 32 | 39 | -7 | 40 |
Key: 🏆 Title contenders (top 2) | 🟡 CAF Champions League | 🟢 CAF Confederation Cup | 🔴 Relegation zone (bottom 4) | Source: NPFL.ng
Enugu Rangers hold a one-point lead over Rivers United with three games to go — making this one of the tightest NPFL title races in years. Rangers sit on 59 points, Rivers on 58, and the defending champions Remo Stars have fallen completely out of contention in 16th place.
Rangers have been the most consistent team across the second half of the season, climbing from 14th position in round one to lead the table by matchday 31. Their superior goal difference (+16 vs +6) also provides a crucial tiebreaker if the two sides finish level on points. According to the NPFL official website, the title winner qualifies directly for the CAF Champions League group stage.
Rivers United, having held top spot for much of the first half of the season (they led from round 17 through round 33), will need a near-perfect finish. Ikorodu City in third on 55 points are mathematically still in the title picture but would need to win all three remaining games while both Rangers and Rivers drop points.
The Golden Boot race is equally tight heading into the final three matchdays. Joseph Arumala of Ikorodu City leads on 12 goals, just one ahead of Uche Collins (Katsina United) and Godwin Obaje of league leaders Enugu Rangers.
| # | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joseph Arumala | Ikorodu City | 12 |
| 2 | Uche Collins | Katsina United | 11 |
| 3 | Godwin Obaje | Enugu Rangers | 11 |
| 3 | Victor Mbaoma | Remo Stars | 11 |
| 3 | Emeka Obioma | Abia Warriors | 11 |
| 6 | Daddy Abdulrahman | El-Kanemi Warriors | 10 |
| 6 | Evwierhurhoma Igbunu | Warri Wolves | 10 |
The bottom four face the drop to the Nigeria National League. With three games remaining, positions 17 through 20 are separated by just three points — making relegation one of the most dramatic subplots of the 2025/26 season.
Warri Wolves sit 17th on 43 points and are technically in the relegation zone on goal difference, despite having the same points as 16th-placed Remo Stars. Kun Khalifat, Bayelsa United, and Wikki Tourists (all on 40 points) face a must-win run-in. Any side in the bottom four that wins all three games will survive, but equally any team currently outside the relegation zone who loses two from three could be dragged into danger.
The complexity of this fight makes the final NPFL matchday on 24 May 2026 potentially pivotal across multiple fixtures simultaneously.
For Nigerian bettors, the closing stages of the NPFL season offer several high-value angles. First, title-race matches involving Rangers and Rivers United carry significant motivation — both sides will approach every fixture as a cup final, meaning the usual home-advantage patterns may not apply. Backing both teams to score in Rangers home games has been a profitable trend given their attacking record (41 goals in 35 games).
In the relegation zone, teams desperate for wins often produce higher-scoring and more open games. The bottom four have collectively played some of the season’s wildest matches — Wikki vs Katsina ended 4-4 in February 2026, a reminder of what pressure does to defensive discipline.
For today’s NPFL betting tips and predictions, visit our free daily betting tips page which is updated before each matchday. To compare which sportsbooks offer the best NPFL odds, see our guide to the best NPFL betting sites and the full Nigerian bookmakers directory.
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