The regular season of the abridged version of the Nigerian Premier Football League comes to an end and makes way for the playoffs. The playoffs would be made up of the top three teams from each group, Group A and Group B.

The Nigerian Premier Football League took a different turn this season as a result of the league’s new leadership, the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), organising an abridged version of the league.

The 20 NPFL clubs were divided into two groups, A and B, with ten teams in each group for the 2022–23 season, playing 18 games in total. The final games were played on Sunday, May 21, 2023.

Enyimba Int’l FC, Remo Stars SC, and Sunshine Stars FC, joined Bendel Insurance, Rivers United and Lobi Stars as the super six teams to compete in the playoffs, which would not only determine the winner of the season but also determine which teams would represent Nigeria in the continent.   

The Championship playoffs will take place at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos from June 3 to June 11. 

The club with the most points at the end of the competition will emerge as champions. The winner and second-place team in the Super Six will represent Nigeria in the CAF Champions League next season. The third-place team will compete in the CAF Confederation Cup.

It was truly an exciting season and it saw a couple of surprises which included Bendel Insurance and Doma United’s performances as newly promoted sides. The Benin Arsenals equalled the 2021 Champions, Akwa United’s 18-game unbeaten run as they remained undefeated all through the regular season, winning eight and sharing the spoils ten times.  

The Insurance side would be hoping to carry that energy into the super six playoffs when it begins in June. 

Here are the results from match day 18 of 18

Nasarawa United held Bendel Insurance to a 1-all-draw but it did not help their relegation fight, the same was the case for Wikki Tourists who despite getting a 2 – 0 victory over Lobi Stars still fell off the wagon.

Akwa United got a 1-0 road win against Gombe United, Remo Stars stunned Kwara United winning 4-0, and Shooting Stars played out a goalless draw with eight-time Champions, Enyimba.

Bayelsa United survived relegation after a 2-0 victory over Niger Tornadoes, Sunshine Stars shone in a 3-0 win against relegated Dakkada, ripping them off the opportunity to go out on a high, El-Kanemi Warriors against Plateau United ended 2 all, and Abia Warriors defeated Doma United by 2 goals to nothing denying them a place in the Super Six, and finally Enugu Rangers and Holders Rivers United played out a 1 all draw.

 Here’s what it means for teams at the end of the season;

In Group A, First-placed Bendel Insurance, second-placed Remo Stars, and third-placed Enyimba all advance to the playoffs.

In Group B First-placed Rivers United, second-placed Lobi Stars, and third-placed Sunshine Stars complete the Six teams. 

 For the Relegated NPFL Team’s

In group A, Nasarawa United in 9th and El-Kanemi Warriors in 10th place exit the NPFL. While on the other side of the divide in group B, Wikki Tourists and Dakkada FC got dropped.

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All four teams will play in Nigeria National League (NNL).