Dikko Thumps up 2020/21 NPFL Season

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

The Chairman, League Management Company (LMC), Shehu Dikko has rated the just concluded 2020/2021 NPFL as the best ever Nigerian topflight season in history.

He made the assessment when he appeared at the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), FCT Chapter Guest Forum in Abuja, asserting that the positives of the season far outweighed the negatives.

Dikko also gave plaudits to the Nigerian league owners especially during the pandemic.

He said unlike other countries where most players took a pay cut, NPFL players received their full salaries.

The LMC Boss said the last league season recorded impressive statistics better than the previous ones, noting that the number of away wins recorded (36) was the highest since the NPFL took charge as owners and organisers of the Nigerian elite league.

“Technically, it was the best league, not just in the NPFL history but since the start of professional football league in Nigeria.

“Commercially, it was challenging, but it was the most innovative because we have brought changes that people thought were impossible to do before. It was challenging because funds did not come the way we thought they will come.

“When I say it was the best technically, we start looking at the numbers and numbers don’t lie,” Dikko said.

He added that in 380 matches, 288 were won, 92 were drawn, while 791 goals, representing an average of 2.8 goals per match.

“It is the highest statistics of goals that we have ever had in the league. 352 home wins were recorded, 36 away victories, the highest away victories in the history of the league. 92 matches where drawn, it is also the highest.

“Total numbers of penalties awarded this past season were 81, compared with other seasons where we have over 100. It shows the referees also did well,” concludes Dikko.