Nasarawa United captain Anas Yusuf has been officially crowned the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Goal King for the 2024/25 season. The CHAN Eagles forward netted 18 goals, including two hat-tricks, as his side battled to maintain their top-flight status.
Yusuf’s goals were pivotal, accounting for nearly half of Nasarawa United’s total of 40 league goals. His exceptional performances not only helped keep ‘The Solid Miners’ in the NPFL but also earned him the prestigious Eunisell Golden Boot and a cash prize of at least ₦3.6 million.
Veteran midfielder Rabiu Ali, 44, of Kano Pillars finished second in the scoring charts with 13 goals his final strike of the season was a sensational long-range effort against Niger Tornadoes. Ikorodu City’s Shola Adelani and Abia Warriors’ Sunday Megwo followed with 12 goals apiece, while Ayomide Cole of Ikorodu City rounded out the top five with 11 goals.
Editorial
In a season brimming with individual brilliance and dramatic final-day battles, Anas Yusuf’s emergence as NPFL top scorer is both fitting and inspiring. His 18 goals weren’t just numbers they were lifelines. In a league where teams live or die by slim margins, Yusuf became Nasarawa United’s saviour.
As captain and winger, Yusuf led by example. His consistency, combined with the flair of two hat-tricks, shows he isn’t just a poacher but a dynamic attacker capable of influencing games at critical moments. In a team that struggled for rhythm, his goals became the rhythm.
This Golden Boot is more than a personal accolade—it’s a symbol of resilience. Nasarawa United fought relegation fears, and it was Yusuf’s boots that did much of the fighting. That he will now be rewarded with ₦3.6 million is just recognition but even more valuable may be what this award does for his visibility, especially regarding Super Eagles consideration.
While much has been said about Nigeria’s forward depth abroad, talents like Yusuf prove that the domestic league continues to produce match-winners. As the CHAN Eagles prepare for future tournaments, his name must now be in pen, not pencil.
Football is not just about titles and trophies. Sometimes, survival is just as heroic—and Yusuf, this season, was nothing short of heroic.
Did You Know?
- The Eunisell Golden Boot was introduced in 2018 to reward the NPFL’s highest goal scorer with cash alongside the award.
- Anas Yusuf is one of only a few NPFL players to score multiple hat-tricks in a single season.
- Rabiu Ali, who finished second, made his professional debut more than two decades ago and still plays at 44.
- Nasarawa United’s nickname, “The Solid Miners,” reflects the state’s reputation for mineral wealth.
- The highest single season goal record in NPFL history is held by Mfon Udoh, who scored 23 goals for Enyimba in the 2013/14 season.
