The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) celebrated excellence on Tuesday by awarding cash prizes of ₦2 million each to two of the 2024/25 season’s most impressive figures.
Anas Yusuf, Nasarawa United’s dynamic striker, was honoured for clinching the league’s top scorer title with an outstanding 18-goal tally. Daniel Ogunmodede, the head coach of Remo Stars, was also recognized after steering his team to their first-ever NPFL championship in remarkable style.
Remo Stars—based in Ikenne—secured the league crown with an impressive 71-point finish, making history as the first privately-owned South-Western club to win the title since 2000.
During the awards presentation, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, represented by Secretary General Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, lauded the league’s advancements and the NPFL board’s hard work.
Sanusi remarked, “The NPFL is evolving positively week after week. I now receive at least 20 requests from foreign clubs on a daily basis. Rather than criticize our league system, we should champion and support its progress—the improvements are clear. The NFF remains steadfast in backing the NPFL board’s initiatives.”
NPFL Chairman Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye echoed these sentiments, underscoring the league’s determination to raise standards despite facing hurdles.
“Nigerian clubs are gaining recognition across Africa,” Elegbeleye noted. “Our league forms the foundation of Nigerian football, and as we make strides forward, our nation assembles more respect on the international stage.
“We’re tackling the challenges that could interrupt our progress, and for three consecutive years, we’ve managed to start and end our seasons as planned.
“This reliability has instilled confidence in private investors who are now eager to collaborate with us. Our goal is to keep elevating the NPFL, driving up standards and revenues for both clubs and organizers alike.”
For Anas Yusuf, the award serves as powerful encouragement. The star striker expressed gratitude, seeing the recognition as fuel to raise his performance further.
“It’s an honour to be acknowledged by the NPFL. This award motivates me to work even harder. I aim to break my own record next season and hopefully score over 20 goals,” he shared.
Nelson Ine, Executive Director of GTI Asset Management and a strategic partner of the NPFL, emphasized the importance of recognizing and rewarding performance.
He stated, “Rewarding excellence is essential in any system—it inspires others to reach for greater heights. My thanks go to the NPFL board for their efforts, the NFF for their support, and to GTI for being part of this growth story.”
