Rangers Rated Best Defensive Club by NPFL

By Amaechi Agbo

Nigeria Premier Football League(NPFL) leaders, Rangers International FC have been rated the best defensive team of the 2025/2026 season.
This was disclosed by the NPFL organisers which released its official statistics of the league following Matchday 36, offering a detailed snapshot of a season defined by intensity, resilience, and shifting fortunes across the table.
According to the figures, 359 matches have been played so far, with a total of 718 goals scored—maintaining a steady average of two goals per game. One outstanding fixture remains from Matchday 36, involving Ikorodu City of Lagos and Wikki Tourists of Bauchi, a game that could still influence the final outlook of the standings.
The numbers also reflect a league largely dominated by home sides. Out of 268 total wins recorded this season, 226 have come on home soil, while only 42 away victories underline the difficulty teams face on the road. A total of 91 matches have ended in draws, with away teams suffering 226 defeats, further reinforcing the home advantage trend.
At the summit, Rangers have emerged as the standout side, sitting top of the table with 62 points from 36 matches. Their campaign has been built on defensive solidity—conceding just 25 goals, the best in the league—while also boasting a superior goal difference of +18. They are also among the joint highest scorers this season, with 43 goals, underlining their balance at both ends of the pitch.
At the other end, Bayelsa United and Wikki Tourists remain rooted with the lowest points tally of 40, highlighting the battle for survival as the season winds down. On the road, Abia Warriors—popularly known as the Umu Chineke boys—have impressed with the highest number of away wins, recording five victories away from home.
Meanwhile, Remo Stars have struggled defensively, conceding 45 goals—the highest in the league so far—pointing to vulnerabilities that have shaped their campaign.
With just two matchdays remaining and one outstanding fixture yet to be decided, the statistics paint the picture of a fiercely contested season, where every goal, point, and performance continues to shape the final narrative of the 2025/26 NPFL season.