We are five matchweeks into the 2026/27 NPFL season, and we can already see early performance patterns. The league won't pause during Nigeria's campaign in the 2027 AFCON Qualifiers, and a full round of matches will take place on 26 September and 27 September.

This is the moment to analyse the standings, how the league has unfolded, and check the early top scorers, as well as the relegation battle.

Nigeria NPFL Current Table & Standings — After the First Five Matchweeks

Pos Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts Last 5
1 Barau 5 3 2 0 8 2 +6 11 W3, D2
2 Enugu Rangers 4 3 1 0 8 4 +4 10 W3, D1
3 Doma United 5 3 1 1 8 6 +2 10 W3, D1, L1
4 Bendel 5 3 0 2 9 7 +2 9 W3, L2
5 Kano Pillars 4 2 2 0 10 6 +4 8 W2, D2
6 Plateau United 5 2 2 1 7 6 +1 8 W2, D2, L1
7 Rivers United 3 2 1 0 5 1 +4 7 W2, D1
8 Kwara 5 2 1 2 7 5 +2 7 W2, D1, L2
9 Shooting 3 2 0 1 5 4 +1 6 W2, L1
10 Ranchers Bees 5 2 0 3 8 8 0 6 W2, L3
11 Sporting Lagos 4 2 0 2 6 6 0 6 W2, L2
12 Ikorodu City 4 1 2 1 6 5 +1 5 W1, D2, L1
13 Niger Tornadoes 5 1 2 2 5 6 −1 5 W1, D2, L2
14 Abia Warriors 5 1 2 2 4 8 −4 5 W1, D2, L2
15 Warri Wolves 4 1 1 2 2 4 −2 4 W1, D1, L2
16 Nasarawa 5 1 1 3 5 8 −3 4 W1, D1, L3
17 Inter Lagos 5 1 1 3 3 7 −4 4 W1, D1, L3
18 Katsina United 4 1 1 2 2 6 −4 4 W1, D1, L2
19 Kun Khalifa 4 0 2 2 4 8 −4 2 D2, L2
20 Enyimba 4 0 0 4 3 8 −5 0 L4

The disparity is absolute in the early stages of the 2026/27 NPFL season. Only 10 of the 20 teams have played five full rounds, while eight teams have played only four fixtures. Rivers United and Shooting have been limited to just three matches due to postponements and continental obligations.

Barau are leading the table with 11 points (W3, D2) and are one of four undefeated sides. However, defending champions Enugu Rangers could move into the top spot, theoretically, if they win their pending match. It's still early in the season, but they seem set to square with Rivers United in the title race again.

Surprisingly, Doma United have moved into third place despite being one of four promoted teams for the 2026/27 NPFL season. They've only lost one of their first five fixtures (W3, D1, L1). Three of the four promoted teams are sitting in 11th place or better, with Inter Lagos (17th) being the lone exception.

NPFL Top Scorers, Stats & Players — NPFL Games After 5 Matchweeks

Player Club Goals Nationality
Rilwanu Sadiq Doma United 3 Nigeria
Michael Adegbite Doma United 2 Nigeria
Abdulrasheed Dabai Rivers United 2 Nigeria
Chimobi Igwilo Enugu Rangers 2 Nigeria
Chidozie Iwundu Enugu Rangers 2 Nigeria

Rilwanu Sadiq sits at the top of the goalscoring charts after the first five rounds of the 2026/27 NPFL season with three goals for Doma United, one of the promoted sides. Behind him, eight players have scored twice, with his teammate Michael Adegbite also in the Top 5.

Chimobi Igwilo and Chidozie Iwundu are co-leading the Enugu Rangers attack, while Abdulrasheed Dabai (Rivers United), Jibril Ibrahim (Plateau United), Gideon Monday (Plateau United), Chiedozie Okorie (Ranchers Bees) and Zilkifilu Rabiu (Ranchers Bees) have also scored twice.

None of these players is in Eric Chelle's squad for the upcoming 2027 AFCON Qualifiers, as the Super Eagles have loaded up their attacking line with players who feature regularly in European clubs.

NPFL Prediction 2026/27 — NPFL Table and Fixtures: Who Will Win?

Although it's still early in the NPFL 2026/27 season, the title race will likely come down to two teams: Enugu Rangers and Rivers United. Neither team has played the full five rounds yet because of their continental commitments in the CAF Champions League, but both are the league's best teams by a sizable margin.

Perhaps the best example of their strength is that both remain undefeated. Enugu Rangers have gone W3, D1 in their four matches, while Rivers United own a W2, D1 mark.

One aspect that needs to be acknowledged in the NPFL 2026/27 title race is that both Enugu Rangers and Rivers United will have scheduling conflicts if they continue to progress in the 2026/27 CAF Champions League. Neither team has been overly affected so far, but it could become an issue as the season progresses, forcing both clubs to rotate the side constantly in the league. This could give other clubs an advantage.

The team that looks like the biggest threat to Enugu Rangers and Rivers United in the early stages of the season is Barau. They enter the weekend in first place with a W3, D2 record through five matches, conceding just two goals. Only Rivers United have conceded fewer to open the campaign.

The dark horse should be Doma United, as they've been turning heads with their play this season. Despite being promoted, they sit in third place after the first five rounds of the NPFL 2026/27 season. They're one team to keep close tabs on if they continue to play at a high level.

NPFL Results 2026/27 — Biggest Matches and Early Surprises

Doma United has been the biggest overperformer. Even though promoted teams tend to struggle in the early stages of a new season in the top flight, Doma United have adjusted surprisingly well. They sit in third place with just one defeat in their opening five fixtures (W3, D1, L1).

Meanwhile, the biggest underperformer has been the Shooting Stars. Even though they have been balancing the NPFL with the CAF Confederation Cup, they have a W2, L1 record. More is expected out of a team representing the NPFL in continental competition, but since the competition is just beginning, the narrative can change if they win their two pending matches.

The best match of the NPFL 2026/27 season so far was Sporting Lagos' away comeback win over Enyimba on September 23. Sporting Lagos fell 0-1 and 1-2, but they answered with two second-half goals to turn things around.

NPFL Standings — Relegation Zone: Who Is in the Bottom Four?

Surprisingly, only one of the recently promoted teams sits in the bottom four after the first five rounds of the league, as Inter Lagos own a W1, D1, L3 record and enter the weekend in 17th place.

The other three teams in the red zone are Katsina United (W1, D1, L2), Kun Khalifa (D2, L2) and Enyimba (L4). Enyimba's case is complicated, as they underwent a massive squad overhaul after surviving relegation but have yet to record a single point to open the NPFL 2026/27 campaign.

As for the other three recently promoted teams, they've been better than expected. Through five rounds, Doma United sit in third place with 10 points, while Ranchers Bees and Sporting Lagos are in 10th and 11th place, respectively, with six points.

The relegation format for the NPFL 2026/27 season will be the same as in the 2025/26 campaign. The last four teams in the standings will be automatically relegated to the NNL.

NPFL Fixtures 2026/27 — When Does the League Return?

The NPFL 2026/27 won't stop during the international break. Although Nigeria are playing two 2027 AFCON qualifying matches (25 Sep vs Madagascar, 29 Sep vs Guinea-Bissau), the league will continue. A full round of fixtures is scheduled between 26 and 27 September.

Only two clubs will be missing players during the international break. Nigeria manager Eric Chelle called up only three NPFL players: Michael Atata, a 20-year-old goalkeeper for Ikorodu City, Kenneth Igboke, a 21-year-old defender for Enugu Rangers, and Aderemi Adeoye, a 19-year-old midfielder for Ikorodu. However, it must be noted that these three players will be available for a friendly against Russia on October 6, and not for the AFCON Qualifiers.