ENYIMBA and Kwara United will join Akwa United as Nigeria’s representatives in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup after finishing the league in second and third places respectively, while Sunshine Stars avoided the drop after the final round of matches.
Heading to the match-day 38 fixtures of the Nigeria Professional Football League, five teams — Nasarawa United, Rivers United, Kano Pillars, Enyimba and Kwara United — were battling for the remaining two continental slots, while five teams on the other end of the table were battling relegation.
Nasarawa, Rivers and Pillars who were second, third and fourth on the log all lost their final games of the season, while Enyimba (fifth) and Kwara (sixth) won their games and moved to the second and third spots respectively.
Anayo Iwuala’s brace and Samad Kadair’s strike helped the People’s Elephant to a comfortable 3-1 win over Dakkada FC in Uyo.
Abia Warriors dashed Nasarawa’s Champions League dreams with a 3-1 win in Aba with Silas Nwankwo scoring a consolation goal in extra-time to take his season tally to 19, while Pillars and River United both lost by a lone goal to Heartland and Sunshine Stars respectively to see their continental hopes dashed.
Sunshine Stars’ win sees them retain their topflight status as Jigawa Golden Stars, Warri Wolves, FC IfeanyiUbah and Adamawa United were confirmed relegated.
