{"id":3012,"date":"2026-09-07T07:38:20","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T06:38:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/winnerstip.com\/blog\/?p=3012"},"modified":"2026-09-07T07:39:53","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T06:39:53","slug":"best-10-players-in-the-nigerian-premier-league-today-winnerstip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/winnerstip.com\/blog\/best-10-players-in-the-nigerian-premier-league-today-winnerstip\/","title":{"rendered":"Best 10 Players in the Nigerian Premier League Today | Winnerstip"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL)<\/a> continues to produce some of the most exciting talent in African football, and the 2025\/26 season delivered one of its most dramatic conclusions in years \u2014 Enugu Rangers pipping Rivers United to a ninth title on the final matchday, while the Golden Boot race came down to a three-way tie. Here’s a look at the best 10 players who defined the season and remain ones to watch as the NPFL heads into 2026\/27.<\/p>\n

1. Godwin Obaje (Enugu Rangers)<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Rangers’ captain and talisman was central to the club’s record-equalling ninth NPFL title. Obaje’s physical presence, aerial dominance, and knack for arriving late in the box made him one of the league’s most decisive forwards all season, finishing among the very top scorers.<\/p>\n

2. Jonathan Mairiga (Wikki Tourists)<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The 2025\/26 Golden Boot winner produced one of the NPFL’s most remarkable individual campaigns \u2014 14 goals, every single one from open play, with no penalties or set-piece tap-ins. Even more impressive, he delivered it for a side that was ultimately relegated.<\/p>\n

3. Victor Mbaoma (Remo Stars)<\/h4>\n

The reigning champions’ talisman matched the league’s best strikers goal for goal, finishing level with Mairiga and Obaje at the top of the scoring charts. His movement and finishing kept Remo Stars competitive even as the club fought against relegation.<\/p>\n

4. Joseph Arumala (Ikorodu City)<\/h4>\n

The breakout star of the season. At just 21, Arumala’s pace and directness fired newly promoted Ikorodu City into continental qualification contention in only their second top-flight campaign \u2014 arguably the most exciting individual story of the year.<\/p>\n

5. Uche Collins (Katsina United)<\/h4>\n

A genuine outlier in the Golden Boot race \u2014 Collins is the only player among the league’s top six scorers to have netted a hat-trick this season, underlining his ability to win matches almost single-handedly.<\/p>\n

6. Chidera Michael (Enyimba)<\/h4>\n

A key attacking outlet for one of Nigeria’s most storied clubs, Michael’s goal contributions helped keep Enyimba competitive during a season that otherwise saw the People’s Elephant fighting closer to the relegation zone than their history would suggest.<\/p>\n

7. Chukwuemeka Obioma (Abia Warriors)<\/h4>\n

A former NPFL Golden Boot winner, Obioma brought proven pedigree to Abia Warriors<\/a> and remained one of the league’s most reliable finishers, chasing a second scoring title deep into the closing weeks of the campaign.<\/p>\n

8. Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars)<\/h4>\n

The Super Eagles legend continues to lend experience and leadership to Kano Pillars. While his goal tally sat below the young pacesetters this season, his influence, game management, and big-match temperament remain invaluable to a rebuilding side.<\/p>\n

9. Victor Ezeji (Enyimba)<\/h4>\n

A former Super Eagles man who brought composure and know-how to Enyimba’s midfield during a turbulent campaign, helping steady a club with continental pedigree through a genuinely difficult season.<\/p>\n

10. Alex Oweilfaleya (Bendel Insurance)<\/h4>\n

Rounding out the league’s top-10 scoring club with double-digit goals, Oweilfaleya’s consistency for Bendel Insurance was a highlight of a season that saw seven different players reach double figures \u2014 a sign of just how competitive the NPFL has become.<\/p>\n

The depth on this list says a lot about where the NPFL is right now: seven players hit double-figure goal tallies, the Golden Boot came down to a tiebreaker rule, and the title itself was decided by a single point on the final day. For fans following the latest NPFL predictions today<\/a>, these are the names most likely to shape matchday outcomes heading into 2026\/27 \u2014 and with Rangers and Rivers United both now preparing for the CAF Champions League, several of these players will also be ones to track on the continental stage.<\/p>\n

Explore our full range of free betting live score tools<\/a> to analyse live score, form, compare odds, and build smarter predictions around these players and their clubs this season.<\/p>\n

FAQ<\/p>\n

Who won the NPFL Golden Boot in the 2025\/26 season?
\nJonathan Mairiga of Wikki Tourists won the award, level on 14 goals with Victor Mbaoma and Godwin Obaje, after a tiebreaker rule favoured his all-open-play scoring record.<\/p>\n

Which club won the 2025\/26 NPFL title?
\nEnugu Rangers won their ninth NPFL title, edging out Rivers United by a single point on the final matchday of the season.<\/p>\n

Which NPFL clubs qualified for continental football?
\nEnugu Rangers and Rivers United will represent Nigeria in the CAF Champions League for the 2026\/27 season.<\/p>\n

Who is the breakout star of the NPFL this season?
\n21-year-old Joseph Arumala of Ikorodu City, who helped fire the newly promoted club into continental contention in only their second top-flight season.<\/p>\n

Responsible Betting Disclaimer: Football is unpredictable, and no player form or prediction guarantees an outcome. Please bet responsibly, only wager what you can afford to lose, and seek help if betting stops being fun. 18+ only.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) continues to produce some of the most exciting talent in African football, and the 2025\/26 season delivered one of its most dramatic conclusions in … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3013,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[17,2],"tags":[483,478,479,485,481,484,486,482,480],"class_list":["post-3012","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-football-news","tag-best-footballers-in-nigeria-today","tag-best-npfl-players-today","tag-best-players-in-nigerian-premier-league","tag-enugu-rangers-players","tag-nigerian-premier-league-top-scorers","tag-npfl-golden-boot","tag-npfl-predictions-today","tag-npfl-stars","tag-top-npfl-players"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2337,"url":"https:\/\/winnerstip.com\/blog\/top-10-highest-ranking-football-coaches-in-nigeria\/","url_meta":{"origin":3012,"position":0},"title":"Top 10 Highest Ranking Football Coaches in Nigeria","author":"TheLoneCitizen","date":"August 21, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Top 10 Highest Ranking Football Coaches in Nigeria In the field of football, the influence of a coach can shape the destiny of a team. 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