NPFL Rejects Claims of Regional Bias in Relegation Patterns

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has strongly dismissed allegations suggesting that relegation outcomes in the league are manipulated to maintain a supposed balance between clubs from the northern and southern regions of the country.

The controversy arose following reports claiming that over the last six NPFL seasons, an equal number of teams—12 from the North and 12 from the South—have been relegated.

The reports further suggested that the statistical symmetry appeared “too consistent to be accidental,” raising suspicions of possible bias in league administration.

However, the NPFL has firmly rejected these claims, describing them as unfounded and misleading.

In a statement released on Thursday, the league’s Director of Communications, Harry Iwuala, insisted that relegation is determined strictly by sporting merit and club performance, not geography or regional considerations.

According to Iwuala, teams only drop from the top flight when they fail to meet the competitive and operational standards required to sustain a campaign in the NPFL.

“The NPFL does not draw regional lines of north and south; clubs are treated purely as registered football entities,” he stated, emphasizing that performance remains the only criterion for survival in the league.

He further noted that no club from the northern region has won the league title within the period under review, reinforcing the argument that outcomes are based on sporting competitiveness rather than regional balancing.

Responding specifically to the statistical claims, Iwuala pointed out inconsistencies in the analysis, referencing cases such as Heartland FC, which were relegated, returned to the league through administrative processes, and were subsequently relegated again.

He explained that such situations reflect procedural gaps that the league is actively working to close.

“That in itself shows that a team relegated in a previous season was not competitive enough to remain in the NPFL, even though it used legal provisions to return.

“We have since moved to address such loopholes administratively,” he added.

Iwuala also urged stakeholders, analysts, and fans to focus more on the development and competitiveness of Nigerian football rather than promoting narratives based on unverified regional interpretations.

“It will serve Nigerian football better when we focus on the game itself rather than unproven undertones based on regional divides,” he concluded.

The 2025/2026 NPFL season concluded just days ago, with Enugu Rangers emerging champions for a record-extending ninth league title.

At the other end of the table, four clubs were relegated, including former champions Remo Stars, alongside El-Kanemi Warriors, Bayelsa United, and Wikki Tourists.

The NPFL maintains that the relegation system remains strictly performance-based as the league continues efforts to improve professionalism, transparency, and competitive integrity in Nigerian football.