The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) top scorers award was not given to previous top scorers since the league began in 1972. It was in the 1989/90 season that the top scorer award was first given, as Ishaya Jatau scripted history to become the first Nigerian footballer to win the NPFL top scorer award with his 17 goals for Iwuanyanwu Nationale.
Since then, many other players have gone on to win the prestigious award including 2013 African Cup of Nations winner, Ahmed Musa who won the award in 2010 while playing in the league for Kano Pillars. At the time of writing (2023), Ahmed Musa still plays for the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
Interestingly, a handful of players have shared the award due to finishing the season on equal goals with another player. This happened first in the 2002/03 season when Chibuzor Ozurumba of Iwuanyanwu Nationale and Endurance Idahor of Julius Berger, ended the campaign on 13 goals apiece to win the NPFL top scorers award. As if that was not enough, the following 2003/04 season, history was repeated, as Kabiru Alausa of Julius Berger and Timothy Anjembe of Lobi Stars finished the season on 13 goals.
Furthermore, in the 2018/19 season, Mfon Udoh of Akwa United and Sanusi Ibrahim of Nasarawa United lit up the NPFL, scoring 19 goals apiece to take home the NPFL top scorers award. A season after that, Charles Atshimene and Silas Nwankwo scored 19 goals in the league, it was such an interesting competition between these guys who played for Akwa United and Nasarawa United respectively.
Nevertheless, every other NPFL top scorer falls short of Mfon Udoh's record of 23 goals in a single Nigeria Professional Football League campaign for Enyimba in the 2013/14 season, which is the record to break. Let's now have a look at the updated list of the NPFL top scorers since the inception of the top scorer award in the 1989/90 season right up to the 2022/23 league season which was won by Enyimba's Chukwuemeka Obioma.
NPFL Top Scorers List
1989/90: Ishaya Jatau – 17 Goals (Iwuanyanwu Nationale)
1990/91: Richard Ojomo – 12 Goals (Bendel United)
1991/92: Arthur Moses – 10 Goals (Super Stores)
1992/93: Tony Nwigwe – 13 Goals (Iwuanyanwu Nationale)
1993/94: Olumide Harris – 14 Goals (Shooting Stars)
1994/95: Ben Agawam – 12 Goals (Gombe United)
1995/96: Peter Anyiolobi – 9 Goals (Enyimba)
1996/97: Paul Kpoughoul – 16 Goals (Jasper United/BCC Lions)
1997/98: Hassan Minna – 14 Goals (Gombe United)
1998/99: Emmanuel Ago – 14 Goals (Iwuanyanwu Nationale)
1999/2000: Peter Ijeh – 14 Goals (Julius Berger)
2000/01: Uche Okereke – 13 Goals (Enugu Rangers)
2001/02: Joetex Frimpong – 16 Goals (El Kanemi Warriors)
2002/03: Chibuzor Ozurumba (Iwuanyanwu Nationale) and Endurance Idahor (Julius Berger) – 13 Goals
2003/04: Kabiru Alausa (Julius Berger) and Timothy Anjembe (Lobi Stars) – 13 Goals
2005/05: Joseph Akpala – 12 Goals (Bendel Insurance)
2005/06: Ikechukwu Ibenegbu – 10 Goals (El-Kanemi Warriors)
2006/07: Aruwa Ameh – 10 Goals (Kaduna United)
2007/08: Abubakar Babale – 14 Goals (Sunshine Stars)
2008/09: Orok Akarandut – 17 Goals (Akwa United)
2009/10: Ahmed Musa – 18 Goals (Kano Pillars)
2010/11: Jude Aneke – 20 Goals (Kaduna United)
2011/12: Sibi Gwar – 17 Goals (Niger Tornadoes)
2012/13: Victor Namo – 18 Goals (Nasarawa United)
2013/14: Mfon Udoh – 23 Goals (Enyimba)
2014/15: Gbolahan Salami – 17 Goals (Warri Wolves)
2015/16: Godwin Obaje – 18 Goals (Wikki Tourists)
2016/17: Anthony Okpotu – 19 Goals (Lobi Stars)
2017/18: Junior Lokosa – 19 Goals (Kano Pillars)
2018/19: Mfon Udoh (Akwa United) and Sanusi Ibrahim (Nasarawa United) – 19 Goals
2019/20: Israel Abia – 12 goals (Rangers International)
2020/21: Charles Atshimene (Akwa United) and Silas Nwankwo (Nasarawa United) – 19 goals
2021/22: Chijioke Akuneto – 19 goals (Rivers United)
2022/23: Chukwuemeka Obioma – 16 goals (Enyimba)
This article was most recently revised and updated 3 months ago
