Enugu Rangers win their ninth NPFL title after beating Ikorodu City, while defending champions Remo Stars suffer shock relegation on the final day

Enugu Rangers Football Club were crowned Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions on Sunday, May 25, 2026, after a tense 2-1 victory over Ikorodu City in Lagos, sealing their ninth top-flight title in dramatic fashion.

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The Flying Antelopes went into the final day of the season knowing that only a win would guarantee the championship, with Rivers United applying intense pressure in the simultaneous fixture in Port Harcourt.

Rangers delivered under pressure, producing a composed and clinical performance to secure all three points and finish the season on 68 points, just ahead of their closest rivals.

Chidiebere Nwobodo emerged as the decisive figure for Rangers, scoring twice in the 30th and 52nd minutes to give the visitors a commanding lead in Lagos.

Ikorodu City responded in the 58th minute through Moses Ali, setting up a tense final half-hour as the home side pushed for an equaliser.

However, Rangers showed resilience and tactical discipline in the closing stages to protect their advantage and secure the victory that ultimately sealed the NPFL title.

In Port Harcourt, Rivers United produced a dominant 3-0 win over Katsina United in their final attempt to apply pressure in the title race.

Despite their strong finish, Finidi George’s side ended the campaign on 67 points, just one point behind Rangers in one of the tightest title races in recent NPFL history.

The narrow margin highlighted the decisive impact of Rangers’ consistency throughout the season.

The triumph adds another chapter to Rangers’ rich football history, bringing their total NPFL titles to nine.

Their previous league successes came in 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1984, 2016 and 2023/24, further cementing their legacy as one of Nigeria’s most decorated clubs.

In a dramatic twist, defending champions Remo Stars were relegated from the NPFL after a 1-1 draw with Bendel Insurance in Benin City.

Victor Mbaoma had given Remo Stars a crucial first-half lead, raising hopes of survival, but Chijioke Akuneto’s stoppage-time equaliser changed the course of their fate.

The result dropped the Sky Blue Stars into danger, and subsequent results confirmed their fall into the Nigeria National League.

Remo Stars became the first reigning NPFL champions to suffer relegation since Bayelsa United in the 2009/10 season, marking a rare and shocking collapse in Nigerian football history.

El-Kanemi Warriors, Bayelsa United and Wikki Tourists also joined Remo Stars in relegation, bringing an end to a highly dramatic NPFL season defined by tight margins at both ends of the table.

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Rangers’ triumph secured them a place in next season’s CAF Champions League alongside Rivers United, rounding off a campaign filled with late drama, shifting fortunes and historic outcomes.