NPFL: Omokaro Hails Fiercely Competitive 2025/26 Season Title Race

Bright Omokaro, a former Nigeria international, has exclusively told Completesports.com that the NPFL 2025/2026 campaign is one with an ‘exceptional difference’, emphasising that he cannot remember ever participating in or witnessing a season as tough, organised and competitive until the final minute of the last matchday games before a winner could emerge.

The 61-year-old Omokaro, who was part of the defunct Iwuanyanwu Nationale-dominated Nigeria squad to the 1988 Olympic men’s football team, as well as the Maroc ’88 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), spoke to Completesports.com on Friday ahead of the 2025/2026 NPFL final matchday games billed to hold on Sunday, 24 May 2026, across the country.

‘10-10’, as Omokaro is fondly called, hinted that “at the moment, my memory cannot recollect if ever we had this kind of league in our playing days”.

“No, no, no, I can’t remember. My memory can’t recollect,” he began when asked if and when he witnessed a season whereby the winner only emerged after the last match of the season.

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“This (season) is something remarkably special. You can’t predict a winner until the final whistle of the last matches.

“It’s good and it can only show the quality of Nigerian football and the league in particular.”

Rangers and Rivers United are battling for the title, just as Ikorodu City and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), Ibadan, are in the hunt for third place, which could guarantee a ticket to the 2026/2027 CAF second-tier interclub competition, the CAF Confederation Cup.

Omokaro said it is difficult to predict where the pendulum of victory will swing on Sunday between Rangers and Rivers United. He, however, said that Rangers have so far shown more seriousness in the title race.

“It all has to do with the players’ mentality. That kind of mentality we displayed during our days when it comes to big games like this.

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“No doubt, the two teams have chances to claim the trophy. Rivers United are playing at home. Rangers are playing away. Ordinarily, it looks like a disadvantage to them. But then, they have shown more seriousness, which is what is needed at this stage.

“I don’t know, I don’t know. It’s going to be a very tough match. Anything can happen, but the situation is good for Nigerian football.”