# 2012 Nigeria Premier League

The 2012 Nigeria Premier League is the 41st season of the competition since its inception, and the 22nd since the rebranding of the league as the "Professional League".
Sixteen teams from the previous season and four teams promoted from the Nigeria National League
(Akwa United, Rising Stars, Jigawa Golden Stars and Wikki Tourists) are participating in this season.
The season was originally due to start November 26, 2011, less than a month after the conclusion of the previous season due to many long delays by the NFF. The date was pushed back to January 2012 to give time to organize and to sort out the league's sponsorship and scheduled to run to July.

## Clubs

| Team name | Home city | Home venue | First year of current stint in League |
| ABS | Ilorin | Kwara State Stadium | 2010 |
| Akwa United | Uyo | Uyo Township Stadium/UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar | 2011 |
| Dolphins | Port Harcourt | Liberation Stadium | 2009 |
| Enugu Rangers | Enugu | Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium | 1973 |
| Enyimba | Aba | Enyimba International Stadium | 1994 |
| Gombe United | Gombe | Pantami Stadium | 1994 |
| Heartland | Owerri | Dan Anyiam Stadium | 1975 |
| Jigawa Golden Stars | Dutse | Hadejia Stadium | 2011 |
| Kaduna United | Kaduna | Kaduna Township Stadium | 2008 |
| Kano Pillars | Kano | Sani Abacha Stadium/Hadejia Stadium | 2001 |
| Kwara United | Ilorin | Kwara State Stadium | 2009 |
| Lobi Stars | Makurdi | Emmanuel Atongo Stadium, Katsina-Ala/Aper Aku Stadium/Old Parade Ground | 1999 |
| Niger Tornadoes | Minna | Minna Township Stadium | 2003 |
| Ocean Boys | Brass | Samson Siasia Stadium | 2006 |
| Rising Stars | Akure | Gateway Stadium (Ijebu Ode)/Akure Township Stadium | 2011 |
| Sharks | Port Harcourt | Sharks Stadium | 2008 |
| Shooting Stars | Ibadan | Awolowo Stadium/MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta | 2009 |
| Sunshine Stars | Akure | Akure Township Stadium | 2007 |
| Warri Wolves | Warri | Warri Township Stadium | 2008 |
| Wikki Tourists | Bauchi | Abubarkar Tafawa Balewa Stadium | 2011 |

### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Kano Pillars (C) | 36 | 17 | 10 | 9 | 46 | 26 | +20 | 61 | Qualification for 2013 CAF Champions League |
| 2 | Enugu Rangers (Q) | 36 | 17 | 7 | 12 | 45 | 27 | +18 | 58 | Qualification for 2013 CAF Champions League |
| 3 | Lobi Stars (Q) | 36 | 18 | 3 | 15 | 38 | 30 | +8 | 57 | Qualification for 2013 CAF Confederation Cup |
| 4 | Enyimba | 36 | 16 | 6 | 14 | 38 | 30 | +8 | 54 | |
| 5 | Sunshine Stars | 36 | 15 | 7 | 14 | 41 | 35 | +6 | 52 | |
| 6 | Kwara United | 36 | 16 | 4 | 16 | 35 | 36 | −1 | 52 | |
| 7 | Sharks | 36 | 16 | 4 | 16 | 43 | 46 | −3 | 52 | |
| 8 | Heartland (Q) | 36 | 14 | 9 | 13 | 32 | 30 | +2 | 51 | Qualification for 2013 CAF Confederation Cup |
| 9 | Gombe United | 36 | 15 | 6 | 15 | 40 | 45 | −5 | 51 | |
| 10 | Wikki Tourists | 36 | 16 | 3 | 17 | 33 | 46 | −13 | 51 | |
| 11 | Dolphins | 36 | 15 | 5 | 16 | 37 | 39 | −2 | 50 | |
| 12 | Akwa United | 36 | 15 | 5 | 16 | 27 | 31 | −4 | 50 | |
| 13 | Shooting Stars | 36 | 14 | 7 | 15 | 31 | 34 | −3 | 49 | |
| 14 | Kaduna United | 36 | 15 | 4 | 17 | 37 | 42 | −5 | 49 | |
| 15 | Warri Wolves | 36 | 13 | 9 | 14 | 32 | 29 | +3 | 48 | |
| 16 | ABS | 36 | 14 | 6 | 16 | 42 | 40 | +2 | 48 | |
| 17 | Niger Tornadoes (R) | 36 | 14 | 6 | 16 | 38 | 42 | −4 | 48 | Relegated to Nigeria National League |
| 18 | Jigawa Golden Stars (R) | 36 | 14 | 6 | 16 | 29 | 42 | −13 | 48 | Relegated to Nigeria National League |
| 19 | Rising Stars (R) | 36 | 10 | 9 | 17 | 23 | 37 | −14 | 39 | Relegated to Nigeria National League |
| 20 | Ocean Boys (D) | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | — | 0 | Relegated to Nigeria National League |
* ↑ Heartland qualified for the 2013 CAF Confederation Cup as the 2012 Nigerian FA Cup winner.
* ↑ Ocean Boys were disqualified September 6 after no-showing four straight games when their relegation was confirmed. All points/results of games involving them were expunged.

### News

* - In addition to the Kaduna United v Jigawa week 1 game, te entire week 2 schedule was postponed due to the nationwide general strike protesting the removal of the national fuel subsidy.
* - Two matchday 4 matches were cancelled: SUnshine Stars FC was robbed on the way to their game with Lobi, and Kano Pillars vs Enyimba was postponed after a bombing attributed to Boko Haram. Pillars eventually announced they were moving games to Jigawa's Hadeja Stadium. The league relented and allowed Pillars to play in Kano behind closed doors.
* - A week 11 match was postponed when Wikki Tourists were robbed on their way to Warri.

### Team of the Year

From MTNFootball
* GK- Chigozie Agbim (Warri Wolves)
* DF- Namso Edo (Akwa United)
* DF- Mutiu Adegoke (3SC)
* DF- Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves)
* DF- Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars F.C.)
* MF- Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers)
* MF- Philip Asuquo (3SC)
* MF- Reuben Gabriel (Kano Pillars)
* FW- Mohammed Gambo (Kano Pillars)
* FW- Abdulrahman Bashir (ABS FC)
* FW- Sibi Gwar (Niger Tornadoes)
* Coach-Mohammed Baba Ganaru (Kano Pillars)
Reserves GK: Moses Ocheje (Sunshine Stars) D: ThankGod Ike (Warri Wolves) D/M:Chinedu Efugh (Heartland) M: David Tyavkase (Lobi Stars) M: Abduljaleel Ajagun (Dolphin)
F: Dele Olorundare (Sunshine Stars) F: Chikeluba Ofoedu (Rangers)

### Managerial (head coach) changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| Enyimba | Felix Emordi | Resigned | End of 2010-11 Season | Abdu Maikaba | Nov. 26 2011 |
| Shooting Stars | Fatai Amoo | Resigned | End of 2010-11 Season | Festus Allen | Dec. 30 2011 |
| Enugu Rangers | Alphonsus Dike | Resigned | End of 2010-11 Season | Felix Emordi | Dec. 23 2011 |
| Wikki Tourists | Hassan Abubukar | Contract not renewed | End of 2010-11 Season | Ladan Bosso | Dec. 23 2011 |
| Warri Wolves | Paul Aigbogun | Family reasons | Feb. 20, 2012 | Maurice Cooreman | Feb. 20 2012 |
| Kaduna United | Maurice Cooreman | Resigned | Feb. 20, 2012 | Saleh Tanko Lato | |
| ABS | Erasmus Onuh | Sacked | Feb. 27, 2012 | Kabiru Suleiman Dogo (interim) | Feb. 27, 2012 |
| Shooting Stars | Festus Allen | Sacked | Mar. 26, 2012 | Tunde Odubola/Busari Akeem | Mar. 26, 2012 |