News
NPFL Predictions: Where Will Ikorodu City Finish This Season?
by Chike Nwoye
29 Nov 2024
After 14 matches in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL)—well past a third of the season—Ikorodu City sit in an unexpected position: 5th. Even their most optimistic fans wouldn’t have dreamed it, especially given how rough their season started.
Making their top-flight debut in the 2024/25 NPFL, Ikorodu City kicked off with high hopes, but those quickly vanished as they managed just one point from their opening five games. They lost four, including home defeats to reigning champions Enugu Rangers and Nasarawa United.
Even worse, they only found the net once during that stretch while conceding seven goals. Unsurprisingly, alarm bells started ringing in Lagos, and the first to pay the price was Head Coach Bright Ozebagbe, who stepped down as the team sat firmly at the bottom of the table.
So, how did they turn things around so fast? It all comes down to teamwork, but a sizeable chunk of the credit has to go to interim Head Coach Nurudeen Aweroro and his revamped coaching crew, who’ve been brilliant in the face of a tough challenge.
After Bright Ozebagbe’s exit, Aweroro took charge with Ali Kandil, Bello Adebayo, and Sheriff Salami joining as assistants, while Courage Okeke stepped in as the Performance Data Analyst.
This shake-up worked wonders, as Oga Boys picked up two wins and a draw in their next three games, scoring 8 goals along the way.
They suffered a gut-wrenching late loss to Enyimba in Aba, thanks to a 92nd-minute strike from Moses Vincent Adikwu, but quickly bounced back with four wins and a draw in their next five matches, including a dominant 2-0 victory over Finidi George’s Rivers United and a thrilling 2-1 win against Shooting Stars in the Derby.
History offers some perspective for what lies ahead for NPFL newbies: back in 2019, Remo Stars struggled after their first promotion to the NPFL and were relegated the following season. However, they bounced back in 2021 and have since become consistent title contenders.
Similarly, Sporting Lagos earned promotion last season but couldn’t avoid the drop and are now fighting to return to the top flight. Ikorodu City, however, seems to have learned from these cautionary tales so they don’t have to suffer the first-season-relegation those two suffered.
So, where will Ikorodu City end up this season? Based on their performances since the coaching overhaul, a top-half finish looks like a real possibility. Sure, it might be a stretch to expect them to keep this red-hot form going all season, but perhaps they’ve already weathered the toughest stretch, and our bet of the day is they will avoid relegation and keep building on this promising foundation.
A closer look at Ikorodu City’s season shows they’re checking all the right boxes for a team aiming for a top-half finish. Right now, they’re the most in-form side in the league, sitting just 5 points off leaders Remo Stars and only 2 behind reigning champions Enugu Rangers. Even more impressive, they’re 6 points clear of the relegation zone—a remarkable turnaround considering their early-season struggles.
If you know anything about Nigerian football, you’ll know success in the league boils down to two things: being rock-solid at home and staying competitive on the road.
Under Nurudeen Aweroro, the Oga Boys have nailed this formula, winning 5 straight games at home and picking up 5 points from 12 on the road (W1, D2, L1). In front of goal, they’ve been on fire, leading the league with 18 goals—an incredible feat, especially when you remember they only scored once in their first five matches.
They have hit the Over 1.5 goals in 6 of their 9 games in that span while keeping 4 clean sheets and BetKing has the best odds for them to continue this run.
Several players have shone for Oga Boys this season, including Shola Adelami, Ayomide Cole, Solomon Alade, and Salau Yusuf. However, one standout has been summer signing Rivio Ayemwenre.
Brought in from Sporting Lagos as Ikorodu City’s first-ever signing in the top flight, Ayemwenre has added the much-needed experience to a squad that boasts the youngest average age in the league. The midfielder’s impact has been instant, leading the team with 4 league goals so far.
His most memorable moment came in the club’s first Southwest Derby against 5-time champions Shooting Stars, where his 88th-minute strike sealed a dramatic comeback victory. That performance earned him both the Man of the Match and Player of the Week honors.
Previously a somewhat under-the-radar figure at Sporting Lagos, Ayemwenre - who many are tipping for a call-up to the Nigeria national football team soon - has embraced his new role as a leader in Ikorodu, guiding his teammates on and off the pitch with the wisdom of someone who’s navigated this exact journey just last season.
One thing’s clear: Ikorodu City has proven they can hold their own against the big boys. But with that comes the added pressure of being on everyone’s radar. The road ahead won’t be easy, with 24 games still to play. A big test looms on December 15th when they host league leaders Remo Stars at Onikan Stadium—a clash that’s sure to draw plenty of attention.
Join BetKing the best betting site in Nigeria - to get value for money. Try out the best betting app in the market and book a bet today to start your journey towards winning millions. Click here to bet on Nigeria Professional Football League games this season.
After 14 matches in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL)—well past a third of the season—Ikorodu City sit in an unexpected position: 5th. Even their most optimistic fans wouldn’t have dreamed it, especially given how rough their season started.
Making their top-flight debut in the 2024/25 NPFL, Ikorodu City kicked off with high hopes, but those quickly vanished as they managed just one point from their opening five games. They lost four, including home defeats to reigning champions Enugu Rangers and Nasarawa United.
Even worse, they only found the net once during that stretch while conceding seven goals. Unsurprisingly, alarm bells started ringing in Lagos, and the first to pay the price was Head Coach Bright Ozebagbe, who stepped down as the team sat firmly at the bottom of the table.
So, how did they turn things around so fast? It all comes down to teamwork, but a sizeable chunk of the credit has to go to interim Head Coach Nurudeen Aweroro and his revamped coaching crew, who’ve been brilliant in the face of a tough challenge.
After Bright Ozebagbe’s exit, Aweroro took charge with Ali Kandil, Bello Adebayo, and Sheriff Salami joining as assistants, while Courage Okeke stepped in as the Performance Data Analyst.
This shake-up worked wonders, as Oga Boys picked up two wins and a draw in their next three games, scoring 8 goals along the way.
They suffered a gut-wrenching late loss to Enyimba in Aba, thanks to a 92nd-minute strike from Moses Vincent Adikwu, but quickly bounced back with four wins and a draw in their next five matches, including a dominant 2-0 victory over Finidi George’s Rivers United and a thrilling 2-1 win against Shooting Stars in the Derby.
History offers some perspective for what lies ahead for NPFL newbies: back in 2019, Remo Stars struggled after their first promotion to the NPFL and were relegated the following season. However, they bounced back in 2021 and have since become consistent title contenders.
Similarly, Sporting Lagos earned promotion last season but couldn’t avoid the drop and are now fighting to return to the top flight. Ikorodu City, however, seems to have learned from these cautionary tales so they don’t have to suffer the first-season-relegation those two suffered.
So, where will Ikorodu City end up this season? Based on their performances since the coaching overhaul, a top-half finish looks like a real possibility. Sure, it might be a stretch to expect them to keep this red-hot form going all season, but perhaps they’ve already weathered the toughest stretch, and our bet of the day is they will avoid relegation and keep building on this promising foundation.
A closer look at Ikorodu City’s season shows they’re checking all the right boxes for a team aiming for a top-half finish. Right now, they’re the most in-form side in the league, sitting just 5 points off leaders Remo Stars and only 2 behind reigning champions Enugu Rangers. Even more impressive, they’re 6 points clear of the relegation zone—a remarkable turnaround considering their early-season struggles.
If you know anything about Nigerian football, you’ll know success in the league boils down to two things: being rock-solid at home and staying competitive on the road.
Under Nurudeen Aweroro, the Oga Boys have nailed this formula, winning 5 straight games at home and picking up 5 points from 12 on the road (W1, D2, L1). In front of goal, they’ve been on fire, leading the league with 18 goals—an incredible feat, especially when you remember they only scored once in their first five matches.
They have hit the Over 1.5 goals in 6 of their 9 games in that span while keeping 4 clean sheets and BetKing has the best odds for them to continue this run.
Several players have shone for Oga Boys this season, including Shola Adelami, Ayomide Cole, Solomon Alade, and Salau Yusuf. However, one standout has been summer signing Rivio Ayemwenre.
Brought in from Sporting Lagos as Ikorodu City’s first-ever signing in the top flight, Ayemwenre has added the much-needed experience to a squad that boasts the youngest average age in the league. The midfielder’s impact has been instant, leading the team with 4 league goals so far.
His most memorable moment came in the club’s first Southwest Derby against 5-time champions Shooting Stars, where his 88th-minute strike sealed a dramatic comeback victory. That performance earned him both the Man of the Match and Player of the Week honors.
Previously a somewhat under-the-radar figure at Sporting Lagos, Ayemwenre - who many are tipping for a call-up to the Nigeria national football team soon - has embraced his new role as a leader in Ikorodu, guiding his teammates on and off the pitch with the wisdom of someone who’s navigated this exact journey just last season.
One thing’s clear: Ikorodu City has proven they can hold their own against the big boys. But with that comes the added pressure of being on everyone’s radar. The road ahead won’t be easy, with 24 games still to play. A big test looms on December 15th when they host league leaders Remo Stars at Onikan Stadium—a clash that’s sure to draw plenty of attention.
Join BetKing the best betting site in Nigeria - to get value for money. Try out the best betting app in the market and book a bet today to start your journey towards winning millions. Click here to bet on Nigeria Professional Football League games this season.