Since the inception of the NPFL top scorers award, it has been devoid of the expected glamour that goes with it.
Since the kick-off of the Nigerian league in 1972, the award for the NPFL top scorers did not start until the 1989/90 season.
History records Ishaya Jatau as the first player to win the NPFL top scorers award. The former Iwuanyanwu Nationale striker scored 17 league goals to finish above every other player.
NPFL top scorers award: A rich heritage
The league has produced more prolific players who lifted the award. While some may have scored more goals than Jatau, the former Iwuanyanwu star had the fortune of also winning the league with his club.
Of all the players that won the NPFL top scorers award, not all of them made it to Nigeria's senior men's national team, the Super Eagles.
Players like Peter Ijeh, Olumide Harris, Endurance Idahor, Joseph Akpala, Ahmed Musa and Gbolahan Salami all got opportunities with the Super Eagles.
In this illustrious list, only Ahmed Musa reached the peak of football with the national team. He won the 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and is the only Nigerian to score two goals in a single FIFA World Cup game.
Musa, who won the NPFL top scorers award in 2010 (18 goals) with Kano Pillars, achieved the feat in a 3-2 loss to Argentina in 2014.
Live at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja for @Eunisellfball Boot Award for the highest goal scorer for the 2018/2019 NPFL season. Congratulations @MfonUdoh_10 and Sanusi Ibrahim for emerging joint top scorer of the season. Thank you @eunisell #EunisellBoot19 #akwalbomtwitter pic.twitter.com/CEQiQYrXf2
— Akwa United FC (@AkwaUnited_fc) June 28, 2019
Players who shared the NPFL top scorers award
It has not always been a clear-cut affair through the years the NPFL top scorers award has been presented.
With the league still struggling with data and statistics, the award has been shared on several occasions by some players who scored the same number of goals.
Interestingly, a handful of players have shared the award due to finishing the season on equal goals with another player.
The first tie of the award was in the 2002/03 season when Chibuzor Ozurumba of Iwuanyanwu Nationale and Endurance Idahor of Julius Berger finished the season with 13 goals each to win the NPFL top scorers award.
The following season saw history repeat itself, as Kabiru Alausa of Julius Berger and Timothy Anjembe of Lobi Stars finished the season with 13 goals.
In the 2018/19 season, Mfon Udoh of Akwa United and Sanusi Ibrahim of Nasarawa United lit up the NPFL. They scored 19 goals each to take home the NPFL top scorers award.
It was the third time a player would score 19 goals in an NPFL season.
Two seasons later, there was another tie for the award, as Charles Atshimene (Akwa United) and Silas Nwankwo (Nasarawa United) scored 19 goals in the NPFL.
NPFL top scorers: Record holder
In 2011, Jude Aneke set the bar high by becoming the first player in the history of the NPFL to hit the 20-goal mark. The Kaduna United striker outstripped the competition to win the award.
However, 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.
To date, the closest any player has come close to the mark is 19 goals, which is a few off the mark.
EUNISELL continues their support for the #NPFL
Chukwuemeka Obioma to receive N 3.2 million for finishing top scorer in #NPFL23, N 200,000 for each goal scored.#NPFL23 pic.twitter.com/dJtvjapI5G
— NPFL News 🇳🇬 (@NPFL_News) June 29, 2023
NPFL top scorers list
Below is the list of the top scorers in the history of the Nigerian Premier Football League:
|
NPFL top scorers list from 1990-2023 |
|||
| Top Scorer | Season | Goals | Club |
| Ishaya Jatau | 1989/90 | 17 | Iwuanyanwu National |
| Richard Ojomo | 1990/91 | 12 | Bendel United |
| Arthur Moses | 1991/92 | 10 | Super Stores |
| Tony Nwigwe | 1992/93 | 13 | Iwuanyanwu National |
| Olumide Harris | 1993/94 | 14 | Shooting Stars |
| Ben Agawam | 1994/95 | 12 | Gombe United |
| Peter Anyiolobi | 1995/96 | 9 | Enyimba |
| Paul Kpoughoul | 1996/97 | 16 | Jasper United/BCC Lion |
| Hassan Minna | 1997/98 | 14 | Gombe United |
| Emmanuel Ago | 1998/99 | 14 | Iwuanyanwu National |
| Peter Ijeh | 1999/2000 | 14 | Julius Berger |
| Uche Okereke | 2000/01 | 13 | Enugu Rangers |
| Joetex Frimpong | 2001/02 | 16 | El-Kanemi Warriors |
| Chibuzor Ozurumba & Endurance Idahor | 2002/03 | 13 | Iwuanyanwu National & Julius Berger |
| Kabiru Alausa & Timothy Anjembe | 2003/04 | 13 | Julius Berger & Lobi Stars |
| Joseph Akpala | 2004/05 | 12 | Bendel Insurance |
| Ikechukwu Ibenegbu | 2005/06 | 10 | El-Kanemi Warriors |
| Aruwa Ameh | 2006/07 | 10 | Kaduna United |
| Abubakar Babale | 2007/08 | 14 | Sunshine Stars |
| Orok Akarandut | 2008/09 | 17 | Akwa United |
| Ahmed Musa | 2009/10 | 18 | Kano Pillars |
| Jude Aneke | 2010/11 | 20 | Kaduna United |
| Sibi Gwar | 2011/12 | 17 | Niger Tornado |
| Victor Namo | 2012/13 | 18 | Nasarawa United |
| Mfon Udoh | 2013/14 | 23 | Enyimba |
| Gbolahan Salami | 2014/15 | 17 | Warri Wolves |
| Godwin Obaje | 2015/16 | 18 | Wikki Tourists |
| Anthony Okpotu | 2016/17 | 19 | Lobi Stars |
| Junior Lokosa | 2017/18 | 19 | Kano Pillars |
| Mfon Udoh & Sanusi Ibrahim | 2018/19 | 19 | Akwa United & Nasarawa United |
| Israel Abia | 2019/20 | 12 | Enugu Rangers |
| Charles Atshimene & Silas Nwankwo | 2020/21 | 19 | Akwa United & Nasarawa United |
| Chijioke Akuneto | 2021/22 | 19 | Rivers United |
| Chukwuemeka Obioma | 2022/23 | 16 | Enyimba |
| Yet to update | 2023/24 | ? | Yet to update |
This article was most recently revised and updated 5 months ago
