The 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season ended on Thursday with some drama as Enyimba International was upstaged by Rivers United to snatch a place in the CAF Champions League.
Enyimba with a 3-1 away win against Dakkada FC of of Uyo had upstaged Rivers United, Kano Pillars and several other clubs to win the slot.
But the decision by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) disciplinary committee to award Rivers United three points despite losing their final game in Akure enabled them to edge out Enyimba.
Rivers were awarded three points and three goals by the committee over a disputed match against Jigawa Golden Stars.
The Jigawa Stars had fielded an ineligible player.
Rivers United thus ended up with 66 points like Enyimba, but they had a superior goals difference.
It means Enyimba will now settle for the CAF Confederation Cup, snatching it from Kwara United, which now fell into the fourth place, from third.
Jigawa Stars may appeal the decision and Enyimba may still be restored to the second place.
The decision on this will be clear in the next few days.
Sunshine Stars and Wikki Tourists also made the headlines on Thursday by escaping relegation.
Sunshine Stars of Akure beat Rivers United 1-0 dramatically escape relegation by moving into 16th place above Jigawa Golden Stars who lost 0-2 to MFM FC in Lagos.
Wikki Tourists of Bauchi handed a 2-0 defeat to visiting Adamawa United of Yola.
Kwara United upstaged on goals difference Nasarawa United of Lafia who finished fifth after losing 1-3 to hosts Abia Warriors of Umuahia.
The Kwara team beat visiting Katsina United 3-0 in Ilorin.
Kano Pillars dropped to sixth after losing 0-1 to Heartland FC of Owerri.
Rangers International and Lobi Stars maintained seventh and eighth places respectively after home wins, with the Enugu side beating Plateau United 2-0 and the Makurdi side beating new champions Akwa United.
The losses meant nothing to both the Jos side and Uyo side, just as it is in the case of .
The points gained did virtually nothing to boost or damage their final positions in the competition, just as the already-relegated FC IfeanyiUbah had no relief in beating Warri Wolves 1-0.
Adamawa United, FC IfeanyiUbah, Warri Wolves and Jigawa Golden Stars have all now been relegated into the 2021/2022 Nigeria National League (NNL).
Both Akwa United and Rivers United will represent Nigeria in the 2021/2022 CAF Champions League.
Enyimba will join the winners of the 2021 Aiteo Cup in representing Nigeria in the 2021/2022 CAF Confederation Cup. – The News.
