Rivers United emerge NPFL champs as Wike splashes N1m on each player

Garden-City based Rivers United were crowned champions of 2021/22 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) as hostilities ended across the nation on Sunday.

Rivers United captain Festus Austin lifts the trophy 🏆 as his team was crowned #NPFL22 champions.

Exciting end to the season🎇🎆@SundayDareSD @bernard_parah pic.twitter.com/7vI2g4IZNw

— League Management NG (@LMCNPFL) July 17, 2022

C H A M P I O N S!!#NPFL22 #NPFLFinalDay #TheCoronation pic.twitter.com/1c7XUuTGdF

— League Management NG (@LMCNPFL) July 17, 2022

Governor Wike disclosed that the State government will ensure that Rivers United players and its management are made comfortable in Port Harcourt.

He announced the reward of One Million Naira for each member of the team for defeating Gombe United. pic.twitter.com/WDM5ypfIiT

— Rivers United FC (@RiversUnitedFC) July 17, 2022

Rivers State Governor Neysom Wike splashed out a sum of N1 million to each player and official of Rivers State-owned outfit for winning the last match of the season yesterday, noting that the money was not part of what the state government had in stock for them for emerging champions for the first time in their history.

His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, was presented with a special award from the LMC by her Chairman @ShehuDikko.

The award was in recognition of his support for Rivers United during the #NPFL22 campaign.@SundayDareSD pic.twitter.com/nF5pqNhvEr

— League Management NG (@LMCNPFL) July 17, 2022

The Pride of Rivers capped their season long performance with a 1-0 win over Gombe United to end their campaign with 77 points and a plus 34 goal aggregate after 38 matches.

#NPFL22FinalDay results#NPFL22 @SundayDareSD @bernard_parah pic.twitter.com/5lKcaoRurt

— League Management NG (@LMCNPFL) July 17, 2022

#NPFL22 final standings#NPFL22FinalDay @SundayDareSD @bernard_parah pic.twitter.com/Mk7m4ARXih

— League Management NG (@LMCNPFL) July 17, 2022

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On the other hand, the quartet of MFM, Kano Pillars, Heartland and Katsina United were relegated to the less glamorous NNL, having finished one, two, three and four places from behind, baring any changes by the LMC.

Interestingly, the last games of the 2021/2022 NPFL season witnessed some home teams winning their matches while others avoided the dreaded drop to the NNL on the final day.