The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) continues to deliver thrilling matches, with the race for the Golden Boot growing more intense each week.
Forwards across the league are stepping up, showcasing their skill and determination to become the season’s top scorer.
Matchday 34 delivered thrilling action across Saturday and Sunday.
There were a lot of exciting results from match venues, with the six goals scored in Katsina United's 5-1 spanking of Abia Warriors producing the most goals -6.
Across all games, 24 goals were scored, the best goal tally since the commencement of the second round of the season.
Ikorodu City, based in Lagos, currently tops the league in goals scored with 52 goals after a 1-1 draw with El-Kanemi Warriors in Maiduguri.
Remo Stars follow closely with 44 goals after defeated Shooting Stars 1-0 in Ibadan on Sunday.
The standings…
Ikorodu City climb into 🔝 3️⃣
⤵️ Heartland drop into bottom-4#NPFL25 #NPFL25FinalStretch pic.twitter.com/hVo3uPJWCX
— NPFL (@NigeriaPFL) April 20, 2025
Lobi Stars, on the other hand, continue to struggle in front of goal. They have managed just 25 goals in 34 games and have been effectively relegated from the NPFL.
As the season draws to an end, the race for the top scorer award has become more exciting.
Here are the NPFL’s top scorers this season.
NPFL 2024/25 top scorers so far
- Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa United) – 15 goals
- Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars) – 12 goals
- Shola Adelani (Ikorodu City) – 11 goals
- Anthony De Souza Ijoma (Abia Warriors) – 11 goals
- Sunday Megwo (Abia Warriors) – 10 goals
- Ayomide Cole (Ikorodu City) – 9 goals
- Ossy Martins (Lobi Stars) – 8 goals
- Kayode Oke (Bendel Insurance) – 8 goals
- Isaac Saviour (Enugu Rangers) – 8 goals
- Rabiu Abdullahi (Bayelsa United) – 8 goals
- Amadu Liman (Lobi Stars/Sunshine Stars) – 7 goals
- Ahmed Musa (Kano Pillars) 8 goals
Ana Yusuf (Nasarawa United) – 15 goals
Nasarawa United’s return to the NPFL has been rocky, with the team still searching for a bit of consistency, and has only won one game at home so far.
However, one player has stood out amid their struggles—team captain Ana Yusuf.
The prolific forward has been a beacon of hope for the Solid Miners, topping the goal-scoring charts with 14 goals already.
| No. of goals | Opponent | Date |
| 1 | Nasarawa United | September 8, 2024 |
| 3 | El Kanemi Warriors | September 21, 2024 |
| 1 | Ikorodu United | September 28, 2024 |
| 3 | Abia Warriors | October 16, 2024 |
| 1 | Kano Pillars | October 27, 2024 |
| 1 | Heartland | December 1, 2024 |
| 1 | Enyimba | January 8, 2025 |
| 2 | Niger Tornadoes | February 2, 2025 |
| 1 | Remo Stars | February 26, 2025 |
| 1 | Plateau United | April 13, 2025 |
The club will be banking on him to keep finding the back of the net as they seek to maintain their NPFL status.
Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars) – 12 goals
The veteran midfielder, like the proverbial wine, seems to get better with age as he has reached double digits in goals contribution for the 11th straight season.
He has, in the process, scored four times from direct free-kicks, the most of any player in the NPFL so far this campaign.
| No. of goals | Opponent | Date |
| 1 | Niger Tornadoes | June 8, 2024 |
| 1 | Plateau United | June 15, 2024 |
| 1 | Ikorodu City | September 8, 2024 |
| 1 | Enugu Rangers | October 16, 2024 |
| 1 | Plateau United | November 3, 2024 |
| 1 | Bendel Insurance | November 9, 2024 |
| 1 | Heartland | November 17, 2024 |
| 1 | Lobi Stars | November 23, 2024 |
| 1 | El Kanemi Warriors | February 12, 2025 |
| 1 | Akwa United | February 26, 2025 |
| 1 | Enugu Rangers | March 2, 2025 |
| 1 | Rivers United | April 25, 2025 |
Sunday Megwo (Abia Warriors) – 11 goals
Megwo, unheralded in the NPFL, is making a name for himself, helping Abia Warriors climb as high as third place on the table with his 11 goals.
His contribution with Anthony De Souza has seen Abia Warriors shine this season in the NPFL.
| No. of goals | Opponent | Date |
| 1 | Kano Pillars | September 29, 2024 |
| 1 | Kwara United | October 13, 2024 |
| 1 | Plateau United | October 20, 2024 |
| 1 | Bendel Insurance | October 26, 2024 |
| 1 | Lobi Stars | November 9, 2024 |
| 1 | Ikorodu City | December 22, 2024 |
| 1 | Bayelsa United | January 25, 2025 |
| 1 | Nasarawa United | March 2, 2025 |
| 1 | Bendel Insurance | March 16, 2025 |
| 1 | Heartland | March 23, 2025 |
| 1 | Lobi Stars | March 26, 2025 |
Shola Adelani (Ikorodu City) – 11 goals
The forward is one of the reasons the ‘Oga Boys' have done credibly well in their first top flight season.
Unknown before the start of the season, he has banged in 11 goals for the club as they continue to push their weight in the NPFL.
34/38 ✅ #NPFL25 #NPFL25FinalStretch pic.twitter.com/E9RQDxbtAp
— NPFL (@NigeriaPFL) April 20, 2025
| No. of goals | Opponent | Date |
| 1 | Shooting Stars | November 17, 2024 |
| 1 | El Kanemi Warriors | November 27, 2024 |
| 1 | Sunshine Stars | December 29, 2024 |
| 2 | Sunshine Stars | January 25, 2025 |
| 1 | Kano Pillars | January 29, 2025 |
| 1 | Kwara United | February 9, 2025 |
| 1 | Bendel Insurance | February 27, 2025 |
| 1 | Lobi Stars | March 9, 2025 |
| 1 | Katsina United | April 10, 2025 |
| 1 | Niger Tornadoes | April 13, 2025 |
His heroics have seen him get a national U20 team invite by Flying Eagles coach Aliyu Zubairu.
Adelani got his tenth of the season as Ikorodu City smashed Katsina United 6-0 on Thursday in a rescheduled game at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena before grabbing another goal as the ‘Oga Boys' defeated Niger Tornadoes 3-0 on Sunday.
Ossy Martins (Lobi Stars) – 8 goals
The forward has been a consistent goalscorer over the past two to three seasons, but his return to Lobi Stars has seen him hit top form.
Currently one of the league’s most experienced strikers, he was in blistering form at the start of the season after he netted five goals in his first five appearances.
However, after suffering an injury, he endured a seven-week goal drought before bouncing back with a brace in Lobi's 2-2 away draw at Shooting Stars on match day 25, taking his season’s tally to eight goals.
| No. of goals | Opponent | Date |
| 1 | Niger Tornadoes | October 13, 2024 |
| 2 | El Kanemi Warriors | October 16, 2024 |
| 2 | Bayelsa United | October 28, 2024 |
| 1 | Kano Pillars | November 23, 2024 |
| 2 | Shooting Stars | February 19, 2025 |
With Lobi Stars struggling at the bottom of the table after match day 33, Ossy Martins' effort is in vain as Lobi have been effectively relegated from the NPFL.
Top scorers of the 2023/24 NPFL season
- Chijioke Mbaoma (Enyimba) – 17 goals
- Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars) – 15 goals
- Jonathan Alukwu (Sporting Lagos) – 12 goals
- Albert Hilary (Plateau United) – 12 goals
- Godwin Obaje (Rangers) – 12 goals
- Bashir Usman (Niger Tornadoes) – 12 goals
Who was last season’s top scorer?
Ultimately, Chijioke Mbaoma was crowned the top scorer after a gruelling 38-game season in the NPFL for 2023/24.
The 22-year-old scored 17 league goals, with nine coming from open play and eight from the penalty spot.
In addition, he provided four assists, contributing to 21 goal involvements overall.
