The Predictor's NPFL XI of the season

The 2013/14 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) produced some of the best individual performances I have witnessed in the top flight in the country. The display of Mfon Udoh of Enyimba and Dolphins winger, Emem Eduok, will remain talking points for years to come.

But there were also superb returns by Bayelsa United striker, Peter Ebimobowei, and Kano Pillars capped up the season with a team effort to win their third league title on the bounce. I have racked the best names this season and settled for my team of the season though I consider Enyimba as team that produced more individual performances last term.

Goalkeeper

Femi Thomas (Enyimba): He started the season poorly but finished strongly. Thomas is one of the reasons Enyimba kept the chase on Kano Pillars at the top. The former Akwa United shot-stopper manned goal all through the second and shipped in 15 goals. For me, the like of Theophilus Afelokhai of Kano Pillars and Leke Ojo of Giwa FC come close. Afelokhai missed a handful of matches for Pillars.

Defenders

Markson Ojobo (Enyimba): I regard Ojobo as one of the underrated players in the premier division. He is a defender who can play across the back four. Despite being a centre-back, Ojobo adapted so well at right-back. Surely a lot of enthusiasts will point to may be Solomon Kwambe, Gombe United's Alhassan Yusuf, Matthew Etim of Rangers, Odinga Odinga or may be Hosea Ayuba, but Ojobo, for me proved to be ahead of the pack.

Jonathan Zikiye (Dolphins): This defender has continued to develop his game and had a very decent at Dolphins. There were a number of left-backs like Chima Akas (Sharks), Zoumane Doumbia (Heartland), Chris Madaki (Giwa FC) and Idris Aloma (El-Kanemi Warriors) among others. Zikiye stood out with his balancing act of defending and bombing forward.

Reuben Ogbonnaya (El-Kanemi Warriors): When you talk of defensive leaders in the league last season, I rate Ogbonnaya as one of the best. No wonder, El-Kanemi head coach, Salisu Yusuf, built his defence around and he acquitted himself decently.

Ousmane Pape Sane (Enugu Rangers): The Senegalese centre-back shrugged problems he had with his coaches earlier in the season to become the stalwart in their backline. The former Sharks man played a key role in defence when Rangers went six-game unbeaten to ease relegation worries. They shipped in just two goals in those six matches.

Midfielders

Julius Ubido (Heartland): There were a number of decent holding midfielders last season. Joseph Nathaniel (Sharks), Razak Aliyu (Enyimba), Rasheed Olabiyi (Enyimba), Charles Henlong (Giwa FC), Tamen Medrano (Sunshine Stars) and Ikenna Hillary Paul (Sunshine Stars) are some of the long-list who put in eye-catching displays. But Ubido was beastly for Heartland with his box-to-box shift.

Kingsley Sokari (Enyimba): The petite midfielder is the man behind the scene of most of Enyimba's attacking moves. Sokari, for me, was the quiet man of the season. He looked comfortable in the middle of the pack and showed he could put in tackles to help defensively.

Christian Pyagbara (Sharks): It is not every season you score four goals in a match, but Pyagbara will cherish that moment of netting four against a team like Sunshine Stars. For an attacking midfielder, he chalked up 14 goals I would not ignore him in my team as the game is all about goals.

Forwards

Mfon Udoh (Enyimba): No disputing his inclusion in my team. Udoh turned himself to a nuisance for every team and their defences. The Enyimba man netted 23 goals to make himself a cult hero in Nigeria's top flight. But I'll play him in a free role up front as he thrives better that way.

Peter Ebimobowei (Bayelsa United): Ebimobowei scored 18 goals in 33 league games for his team, including two hat-tricks. Interestingly all of his goals came from open play and he scored 36 per cent of his team's total goals. Ebimobowei is my centre forward.

Emem Eduok (Dolphins): Eduok like his kinsman, Udoh, were full of running last season and it will be foolhardy to limit him. He turned in 20 goals including six in a game against relegated Nembe City.

The Predictor's XI

GK: Femi Thomas

DF: Markson Ojobo, Jonathan Zikiye, Reuben Ogbonnaya, Ousmane Pape Sane

MF: Julius Ubido, Kingsley Sokari, Rabiu Ali

FW: Mfon Udoh, Peter Ebimobowei, Emem Eduok