Enyimba International FC on Sunday emerged champions of the 2022/2023 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) after winning the Super-Six playoffs with a 1-1 draw against defending Rivers United FC.
Enyimba International FC have now won the league nine times.
Former Remo Stars’ player, Ekene Awazie, opened scores with the only goal for the Peoples Elephants in the 40th minute.
Rivers United FC restored parity through Nyima Nwagua in the second half.
Enyimba FC finished top of the Super-Six playoffs with nine points, same as Remo Stars but with superior goal difference.
Finidi George’s side finished top of the standings with nine points from five matches in the Super Six playoffs.
The Aba giants have also earned a place in next season’s CAF Champions League as well as the giant trophy and N100m.
Remo Stars finished second and will also compete in the CAF Champions League for the first time in the history of the club.
Dethroned champions Rivers United ended the competition in third place and qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup.
How Enyimba won
Having kept each other at bay for the first 20 minutes, both teams began to look for possible openings to explore.
Rivers United made an attempt when Ebube Duru’s cross towards Mark Gibson was parried, and Enyimba’s Olorunleke Ojo also thwarted the resultant header.
Five minutes before the stoppage time, Enyimba broke the deadlock after Pascal Eze’s cross was defended in Rivers United’s box and broke to Ekene Awazie, who ferociously slotted the ball past Sochima Victor.
While Enyimba thought they could keep their lead in the second half, Nyima Nwagua levelled for Rivers United in the 48th minute.
Olorunleke Ojo was called into action on several occasions, but he did very well to deny Rivers United from shooting into the lead.
With the draw on Sunday, Enyimba, Rivers United and Remo Stars all finished on nine points and were only separated by their goal difference.
