In the words of the Great Pele, “a country’s national team is as good as its domestic league”.
The curtain has wound down in the 2015 NPFL season. For the season-ending fixtures, this writer was at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi for the Wikki Tourists/Kano Pillars game. It was a full capacity and the atmosphere was a good advertisement for the domestic league. Incidentally, that was a scenario we had gotten used to all season. It was a fitting end to a glamorous season.
One thing that makes me relish my visits to ATB is the Nigeria 99 motorized stretcher which is still functional at the arena. But there was something peculiar to every venue this season that made it appealing. Be it the cheer leaders at the Nest of champions in Uyo, the buy-two-get-one free promos in Akure or the sai masu gida chants on the yellow/green adorned Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, it has been one fun-filled season for the fans.
Such environments bring out the best in players and one was not surprised seeing the top quality display put up by Wikki and Pillars in what was termed the Northern derby. It was Wikki who needed it more on the day but Pillars’ strength in depth is also well documented. While the mercurial Pillars number 10, Rabiu Ali teased the opposition with deft touches and passes, Shagari Mohammed, arguably the most underrated player in the league put his educated left foot to great efficiency.
But while Pillars had the more composed performance, perhaps, because they were under less pressure, Wikki was more purposeful in the final third. Ultimately, goals by Victor Yakubu and Hamza Tiya gave the hosts a 2-0 victory but that was not enough to secure a continental ticket.
Elsewhere, Enyimba that had already been confirmed champions drew 0-0 with Sunshine at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos. Failure to secure all three points meant Sunshine did not pick the third continental ticket. That was Enyimba’s seventh league title making the People’s Elephant the most successful Nigerian club ever. But Kadiri Ikhana’s wards were easily the best team all season.
In a season where the away victories became a norm, the team with the highest away victories was always going to triumph. With five away victories, Enyimba had the best result on away grounds. It was this consistency on the road that made them lead the log for the greater part of the season.
Clubs’ away forms were always going to play a huge part in their fortunes this season. It shocked a few when Nasarawa United picked a continental ticket. Bar. Isaac Danladi’s boys were the most in-form away team in the second stanza. Notably, they ended Pillars 12 year home unbeaten run while also ensuring Sunshine lost for the first time at home in seven years. This was crowned with a 2-0 victory over Ifeanyi Uba on the penultimate weekend of the season. So from around ninth position at the end of the first stanza, the club won on the last match day to finish third.
Any team that could beat Pillars in Kano deserves to be on the continent. Anybody that has witnessed the vociferous support Pillars enjoys at home will attest to this. A club that could withstand the sai masu gida chants can hold its own anywhere in Africa. Nasarawa had the stand-out performance of the season and their placement on the log is so fitting.
Then there was the free-scoring Warri Wolves filled to the hilt with national team materials. Not a few will argue that though Enyimba notched the results more consistently, Wolves had the best squad this season. On the last day, Wolves beat Taraba 5-1 to seal second place and a CAF Champions League ticket. How many times have we seen Wolves notch such high score-lines this season?
On the contrary, Taraba’s poor form away from home was largely responsible for their relegation. The same should be noted of Kwara United whose five home losses were the highest by any team this season. No team loses five home matches and aspires to keep its place in the NPFL. Poor home form was also largely responsible for Bayelsa United’s relegation.
So while the teams that had the best forms on away grounds were up the ladder, the ones with the poorest forms were down there. This was one season that was decided on the strength of a team on away soil and not its home invincibility.
Kudos must go to Shehu Dikko-led LMC for putting in place a league of Nigerians’ dream. Yes, many had dreamed of the day any team can aspire to go anywhere and pick points in the NPFL. That happened this season. Nobody could predict where the away victories would come. Even the winners, Enyimba lost at home.
LMC put measures in place, including signing a pact with the Inspector-General of Police assuring the referees of their safety during matches, to boost the performance of the away teams. With the home-team-must-win syndrome now extinguished in the NPFL, LMC now have a more solid platform to take the domestic league to greater heights. There is still a lot of room for improvement. One only wonders what next season will look like.
This season has produced worthy winners and we look forward to better representation on the continent next year.
