Mixed reactions trail latest away victories in NPFL

In the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) away victories are usually scarce commodities as home teams often win by all means. Therefore, cases of assault on visiting teams and match officials are recurring decimals in the Nigerian league.

However, this behavior, which is against the spirit of sportsmanship and has continued to give the NPFL a bad image may become a thing of the past. This is because away victories are gradually becoming a common sight in the heavily criticised league. A look at the number of away victories and drawn matches in the 2023/2024 season and the current one has fueled this optimism.

While a total of 29 away victories and 81 draws were recorded in the last NPFL season, the ongoing season which is just entering week 5 this weekend has produced 10 away wins and 13 draws already.

In fact the season opened with three away victories by Enyimba, Remo Stars and Niger Tornadoes. There were also four drawn matches. Which means only three clubs were able to win at home.

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This impressive performance got even better in week three which produced four away victories and three draws. Again, only three clubs managed to pocket the maximum points at home. Already, Enyimba, Tornadoes and Remo Stars have won two away matches each.

This development has no doubt elicited mixed reactions from Nigerian football stakeholders. While some are happy that the win at home by all means syndrome is gradually disappearing from the league, others are skeptical about the development. They believe the much celebrated away wins would varnish into thin air in due time.

Speaking with Weekend Trust, a former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Godfrey Gaiya, said it is the dawn of a new day in the Nigerian elite league.

“I am excited and elated that our NPFL is now an open opportunity for any better team to win. The mentality of “home advantage” is over. Fans can now go to the stadium to watch good football played under a free and fair atmosphere, where better teams win.

 “There is improved officiating from the match umpires who give fair chances to good teams to win. To some extent Nigerian referees in the NPFL have upped their game,” he said.

Gaiya commended the NPFL club managers for gradually changing from their old ways as he said by dealing fairly with their players, they are beginning to abide by the rules of engagement. 

He said, “The era of hired football hooligans is over and this is bringing out the best from both players and the officiating personnel.”

The Chairman of the FCT Football Association, Alhaji Adam Mouktar Mohammed, said, “The reason you see this new surge is a determination to bring sanity and restore confidence to the league for fans, investors and all other stakeholders. The world is watching and taking notes. We will soon see a better ranking in the global index.”

A former Chairman of Kano Pillars football club, Abba Galadima, said the level playing field that has led to away victories in the league will attract more investors.

“It is a great thing. This will impact positively on the domestic league. The League will grow, it will attract investors, and the teams will have the financial muscle to recruit better legs,” said Galadima.

On his part, former Mighty Jets coach, Najib Mabo, son of the legendary Ismaila Mabo, said, “This new development defines the beauty of football and makes the NPFL more colorful with lots of improvements. People feel reluctant to turn out at match venues because of the “must win at home” syndrome.  

“Another benefit is that coaches will recruit the best players to get better results. Therefore, I must commend the referees for now and I hope this free and credible officiating would continue for the progress of football in Nigeria.” 

A former Nigerian international and Super Eagles Coordinator, Patrick Pascal, believes improved officiating is responsible for the away victories being witnessed in the NPFL.

“I am very happy and I think anybody who wants the progress of Nigerian football should be happy as well. I attribute the away victories to good officiating.

“If we continue to have this fair officiating, the future will be bright for Nigerian football. People will have confidence to pay their money to watch good football.

“This will also encourage clubs to recruit quality because that is the only way they can win matches. Players and coaches will have to do their job because they are paid to do it,” he said.

A former Super Falcons assistant coach, Mansur Abdullahi, attributed the development to the enhanced match indemnities for referees by the present leadership of the NFF and the NPFL board.  

“There is improvement in the welfare packages for referees and the arbiters themselves are doing everything to redeem their soiled image. Of course, those who refuse to turn new leaves are either suspended or expelled from the league.  

“In addition, home or away fans who assault referees are instantly punished,” said the Falconets assistant coach.  

Kpakor, Yarma demand cautious optimism 

Amidst the excitement and growing optimism, some football stakeholders have received the new development with a pinch of salt as they said it is too early in the day to celebrate. 

According to them, away results are usually common sights at the beginning of each season but when the struggle against relegation and continental tickets begin, visiting clubs have to pass through the eye of a needle to win. 

Super Eagles legend, Moses Kpakor, said, “honestly, I reserve my comments on your so-called recent surge in away wins in the ongoing NPFL season until it goes all the way to the very end. 

“Otherwise, for decades now, we have all witnessed the same surge, season in, season out but it gets to a point it crashes altogether. So, I see nothing new to start jumping hurray, hurray yet.” 

A former chairman of the Gombe Sports Commission and CEO Prudential Sports, Alhaji Farouk Yarma, also said, “it is a commendable development. However, we had witnessed similar patterns in past seasons, so it’s premature to draw definitive conclusions about the league’s overall quality until we reach the second round or near the season’s climax.

“At that stage, we’ll see how clubs battling against relegation and those competing for the title or continental slots truly measure up.” 

On his part, a seasoned football administrator in the FCT, Godwin Bamigboye, said, “It is a welcome development but the league is just starting. If it continues to the end, it will be fantastic. It is good to see teams winning away matches in the NPFL.” 

How to sustain the momentum 

To keep this going, Mouktar Mohammed said there should be strict monitoring of match officials.

“The only way this can be sustained is to have persons of integrity in key positions.

“There must be a proper framework that is out there and it is strictly adhered to. Consistency is key for investors to see that there is value in the league and it is run as a business with proper corporate governance,” he said. 

For Gaiya, “The leadership of NFF and NPFL should continue with the good administration they are providing now. God fatherism, favoritism and patronage of ‘ordained’ teams should be a thing of the past.

“Efforts should be made by the NFF and NPFL to televise our league matches on premium television channels. This will give further exposure to our game and up our playing and officiating standards. Several other smaller leagues are in premium channels e.g. Ethiopia, Zambia, etc.”

A former Super Eagles coach, Ben Duamlong, also said putting the NPFL on live television consistently will go a long way in sustaining away victories.

“Bring in more television coverage, select the best and courageous referees and provide enhanced welfare packages that will keep them away from the temptations of lazy money spraying club officials. 

“The authorities know how to cleanse the League. It’s still early in the day to draw a conclusion,” he said.   

Similarly, Yarma opined that fans of the NPFL clubs must shun hooliganism.

“It’s imperative for club fans to remember that while passion is a driving force in football, this beautiful game should never be treated as a do-or-die affair. 

“Embracing sportsmanship and fair play will ultimately elevate the league’s reputation and performance on both domestic and international stages”, he said. 

Bamigboye concluded by calling on the NPFL board to continue to enforce the laid down rules and regulations religiously while ensuring that the referees remain impartial.

“There shouldn’t be room for victory by all means again. This has affected us negatively in CAF inter-club competitions. The quality of teams we present on the continent is now far below what we used to have,” he said.