The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has served as the breeding ground for some of Africa’s finest football talents. Among the most prestigious individual honours in the league is the NPFL Golden boot winners award given to the top goalscorer each season.
This award not only celebrates goal-scoring excellence but also tells a rich story of local dominance, rivalries, and rising stars who often go on to represent Nigeria at international levels or earn lucrative transfers abroad.
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Let’s dive into the history of the NPFL Golden Boot, revisit some iconic winners, and explore how the race for the Golden Boot has evolved over the years.
The origin of the Golden Boot in Nigeria
The NPFL, originally established as the Nigerian Premier League in 1972, began gaining organized recognition in the 1990s and 2000s.
The Golden Boot award, modelled after similar accolades in Europe and across Africa, began gaining formal recognition in the early 2000s, although local historians still celebrate goal records from earlier decades.
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Prior to the modern era, clubs such as Shooting Stars, Enugu Rangers, Bendel Insurance, and Iwuanyanwu Nationale dominated domestic football, and prolific scorers like Rashidi Yekini and Richard Owubokiri emerged from these clubs, although not all played during the officially structured NPFL period.
List of NPFL Golden Boot Winners (Selected Years)
Season Player Club Goals
2003 Kalu Uche Enyimba 17
2004 Chinedu Bazuaye Bendel Insurance 13
2007 Ahmed Musa Kano Pillars 18
2009 Victor Ezeji Sharks FC 15
2014 Mfon Udoh Enyimba 23 (Record)
2016 Godwin Obaje Wikki Tourists 18
2017 Stephen Odey MFM FC 18
2018 Junior Lokosa Kano Pillars 19
2019 Mfon Udoh / Ibrahim Sunusi Akwa Utd / Nasarawa 10 (shared)
2021 Silas Nwankwo Nasarawa Utd 19
2023 Imade Osarenkhoe Bendel Insurance 9 (abridged league)
2024 Robert Mizo Bayelsa United 17
2025 Anas Yusuf Nasarawa United 18
Note: Mfon Udoh’s 23 goals in 2014 remains the highest single-season total in NPFL history.
Evolution of the NPFL Golden Boot Race
In the earlier decades of the NPFL, defensive structures dominated the game. Matches were often low-scoring, and away wins were rare. As a result, strikers who hit double figures were seen as elite performers.
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Back then, 15 goals in a season could win you the Golden Boot.
The Mfon Udoh Revolution (2014)
The 2014 NPFL season was historic for many reasons, most notably the emergence of Mfon Udoh, who exploded with 23 league goals for Enyimba International FC setting a record that still stands.
His scoring form earned him: A call-up to the Super Eagles and international attention, although a big move abroad didn’t materialize immediately.
The Rise of Young Talents (2016–2019)
This period saw the NPFL become a launchpad for youth stars. Players like:
Godwin Obaje (Wikki Tourists, 18 goals)
Stephen Odey (MFM FC, 18 goals)
Junior Lokosa (Kano Pillars, 19 goals) …emerged, quickly attracting attention from clubs in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
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Odey and Lokosa, in particular, earned national team call-ups and sealed moves abroad (to Switzerland and Tunisia, respectively).
Notable NPFL Golden Boot Winners & What Happened Next
🔹 Stephen Odey (2017 – MFM FC)
Moved to FC Zurich (Switzerland)
Later joined Genk in Belgium
Represented Nigeria in international friendlies
🔹 Junior Lokosa (2018 – Kano Pillars)
Got trial offers from Barcelona B
Eventually joined Esperance (Tunisia)
Injuries slowed his rise
🔹 Godwin Obaje (2016 – Wikki Tourists)
Was linked to clubs in Egypt, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia
Career trajectory stalled after a few foreign moves
🔹 Silas Nwankwo (2021 – Nasarawa United)
Earned a move to Mjällby AIF (Sweden)
Continues to play in Scandinavia
NPFL Golden Boot Winners Impact on International careers
The Golden Boot is often a gateway to Europe or national team selection. Although not every winner becomes a Super Eagles regular, many have used it to: Join clubs abroad (Norway, Belgium, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia), earn better contracts and gain continental competition exposure (CAF Champions League)
Nigerian clubs with most Golden Boot Winners
Club Notable Winners
Enyimba Mfon Udoh, Kalu Uche
Kano Pillars Junior Lokosa, Ahmed Musa
MFM FC Stephen Odey
Nasarawa United Silas Nwankwo, Ibrahim Sunusi, Anas Yusuf
Wikki Tourists Godwin Obaje
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These clubs consistently produce or attract attacking talent, either through strong youth academies or offensive playstyles.
The NPFL Golden Boot remains one of the most prestigious personal honours in Nigerian football. It tells the story of determination, resilience, and breakthrough for many, it’s the ticket to greatness.
As Nigerian football continues to evolve, one thing remains certain: the race for the Golden Boot will always excite fans and spotlight the next great striker waiting to take the Super Eagles and the world by storm.
