Enyimba has emerged victorious in the Nigeria Premier League championship, claiming their ninth title after a captivating 1-1 draw against Rivers United in the final match of the NPFL Super Six playoffs.
The highly anticipated game took place on Sunday, June 11, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan, Lagos.
The opening goal came in the 40th minute when Ekenne Awazie capitalized on a defensive error from Rivers United, skillfully finding the back of the net.
However, just three minutes into the second half, Rivers United’s captain, Nyima Nwagua, equalized with an impressive strike from a skillfully taken free kick by Chidiebube Duru.
#NPFL23 champions
🔥 E N Y I M B A
– N100m prize money in the bag
– #CAFCL spot
– 9th league title#NPFL23ChampionshipPlayoff #NPFL23Super6 pic.twitter.com/Q9WHknX6Ve— NPFL (@NigeriaPFL) June 11, 2023
Both teams fought hard to break the deadlock, but their efforts fell short, resulting in a final score of 1-1.
Enyimba emerged as the deserving champions, earning themselves a prestigious cash prize of N100 million naira and securing a spot in the upcoming CAF Champions League.
Under the guidance of Finidi George, Enyimba finished at the top of the NPFL Super Six playoffs table, accumulating nine points from five games.
Remo Stars secured the second position with an equal number of points but a lower goal difference.
In an intense battle for CAF Champions League qualification, Remo Stars secured their place in the prestigious competition for the first time in their club’s history with a narrow 1-0 victory over Bendel Insurance on the same day.
Rivers United, finishing in third place, secured a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The Stanley Eguma-led team had hoped for a victory against Enyimba to retain the title and secure a CAF Champions League ticket, but they fell short, settling for a 1-1 draw.
Enyimba’s triumph in the Nigeria Premier League not only signifies their ninth championship win but also rewards them with a coveted place in the highly anticipated CAF Champions League.