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Nigeria Premier Football League

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Nigeria Premier Football League
Founded1972; 52 years ago (1972)
CountryNigeria
ConfederationCAF
Number of teams20
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toNigeria National League
Domestic cup(s)Nigerian FA Cup
Nigerian Super Cup
International cup(s)Champions League
Confederation Cup
Current championsRangers International F.C.(2023–24) (8th title)
Most championshipsEnyimba (9 titles)
Most appearancesRabiu Ali (407)
TV partnersPropel Sports Africa

NPFL Live

StarTimes
Websitenpfl.com.ng
Current: 2024–25 Nigeria Premier Football League

The Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) (formerly the Nigerian Professional Football League) is the highest level of club football in Nigerian football league system. The Nigerian Premier League has suffered like many others, from the financial impact and dwindling fortunes since the late 2000s. [1][2] It is fed into by the Nigeria National League (NNL). It is organized by the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Board headed by Mr. Gbenga Elegbeleye.

Name history

The league was previously known as the "Nigeria Premier League" between 1993 and 2000, and between 2003 and 2013. [3][4]

It has also been known as the "Nigerian Premiership" (2000–2003); "Nigerian Professional League" (1990–1993); Nigerian National League - First Division (1979–1990) and "the (Nigerian) National League" or "Nigerian Football League" (1972–1979) and more recently "Nigeria Professional Football League" (2014–2023).

International partnerships

On 27 April 2016, The Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional organisers of the La Liga sealed a five-year memorandum of understanding deal with the NPFL on capacity building and idea exchange signed by the League Management Company chairman, Shehu Dikko and the La Liga President Javier Tebas. The NPFL and La Liga partnership has already started bearing fruit as during the January transfer window, Super Eagles fringe player Ezekiel Bassey was signed on loan from Enyimba to Barcelona B on a six-month deal with an option of 3-years come end of the season based on performance. The NPFL AllStars (made up of the league's best players) have also been playing Pre-Season as well as Winter break friendlies with top flight Spanish sides like Atlético Madrid, Málaga, Valencia, Villareal etc. In an effort to expose and test Local players against top players and sides.

In Thursday, 25 May 2017, The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) alongside the League Management Company (LMC), also consummated a multi-faceted strategic agreement in general football development with the Football Federation and Premier League body of the Kingdom of Morocco, NFF President Amaju Pinnick and NFF 2nd Vice-president/ LMC Chairman Shehu Dikko put pen to paper on a memorandum of understanding with their Moroccan counterparts, the result of detailed discussions, deliberations and considerations over time. The two FA Presidents signed their own sides in the Office of the Federation Royale Marocaine de Football in Rabat, while the LMC 's Chairman, Shehu Dikko and Chairman of the Ligue Nationale de Football Professionnel (which organises the Botola), Said Naciri signed at the LNFP office, watched by the two FA bosses.[5]

Eunisell, Bet9ja and Hero lager are current sponsors of the NPFL.[6]

History

2017 season

Plateau United F.C. won the league on 9 September 2017, with a 2–0 victory over Rangers International F.C..[7]

2018 season

In July 2018 the league was postponed indefinitely following crisis in the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).[8][9] Lobi Stars was declared as the sole representative of the league in the 2019 CAF Champions League as the team was at the top of the standings.[10]

2019 season

The league consisted of 24 teams. Four were promoted from the Nigeria National League. Twenty teams remained from the previous season which was not completed. They were divided into two groups of 12 teams. The top three teams in each group contested for the title in the NPFL Super six championship playoff in Lagos. The People's Elephant finished at the top of the log with 12 points from five games.

Enyimba vs Kano Pillars is considered the biggest match of the season because of their rivalry and they remain the 2 teams yet to finish outside the top eight for 12 consecutive seasons.

Management

The League Management Company (shortly and commonly known as the 'LMC') is the legal association football League governing body of the Nigeria Professional Football League. It was created and incorporated by the Nigeria Football Federation in 2012 to take over the nearly-collapsed Nigeria Football League (NFL), the former league governing body.[11]

History

The NFF created the Nigeria Premier League, organized by the Nigeria Football League in 1990 as a step in attaining full professionalism as the sole regulatory for football in Nigeria. At the Onikan Stadium on 12 May 1990, the league was given a name as it was then known as the 'Professional League'.[12]

However, in November 2012 with the agreement and support of the National Sports Commission, Nigeria's sports regulatory authority, the NFF constituted an Interim Management Committee (IMC) for the League as part of measures to avert a total collapse of the top tier professional League following the downfall of the Nigeria Football League (NFL) which arose from difficult legal and administrative impediments.[13] The IMC supervised the formation and incorporation of the LMC to run a transparent and commercially viable professional league.

Achievements

The first step the LMC took was to rebrand the League name, from the Nigerian Premier League to the Nigerian Professional Football League, (NPFL) or simply the Professional 'Football' League)[14][15] Also, the LMC signed a $34m TV rights deal to broadcast league matches which lasted until 2017.[16][17]

In 2015, the League Management Company solicited financial support from the Government in order to upgrade existing grounds, provision of required broadcast and medical equipment and facilities in the stadiums.[18]

The League Management Company has its framework and rules governing the 20 clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League each season.[19] On 5 July 2016, the NPFL adopted the TMS Domestic Transfer Matching System (DTMS), becoming the first league in Africa to do so.[20]

The League Management Company is currently headed by Shehu Dikko.[21]

Awards

In 2012, the NPFL was ranked as the best in Africa and 24th best in the world by the IFFHS, the rating puts it a spot above the Scottish Premier League for the year.[22][23]

Association Ranking for the 2023–24 CAF club season

The association ranking for the 2023–24 CAF Champions League and the 2023–24 CAF Confederation Cup will be based on results from each CAF club competition from 2018–19 to the 2022–23 season. The standings below are as of 21 March 2023.

Legend
  • CL: CAF Champions League
  • CC: CAF Confederation Cup
  • ≥: Associations points might increase on basis of its clubs performance in 2022-23 CAF club competitions
  •   Associations ranked 1–12 are eligible to enter two teams in each CAF club competition.
Rank Association 2018–19
(× 1)		 2019–20
(× 2)		 2020–21
(× 3)		 2021–22
(× 4)		 2022-23
(× 5)		 Total
2023 2022 Mvt CL CC CL CC CL CC CL CC CL CC
1 1 - —  Morocco 5 7 8 8 4 6 9 5 ≥8 2 ≥180
2 2 - —  Egypt 4 5 11 6 8 3 7 4 ≥7 2.5 ≥167.5
3 3 - —  Algeria 5 1 3 1 6 5 7 1 6 5 134
4 5 +1 +1  South Africa 6 0 3 0.5 8 2 5 4 4 3 114
5 4 -1 -1  Tunisia 8 6 6 0 4 3 5 1 4 2 101
6 11 +5 +5  Tanzania 3 0 0 0 3 0.5 0 2 3 4 56.5
7 6 -1 -1  DR Congo 5 0 4 1 4 0 0 3 1 2 54
8 7 -1 -1  Angola 0 0.5 4 0 1 0 5 0 2 0 41.5
9 8 -1 -1  Sudan 0 2 2 0 2 0 3 0 3 0 39
10 10 0 —  Guinea 3 0 0 3 2 0 1 0 2 0 29
11 9 -2 -2  Libya 0 0 0 2 0 0.5 0 5 0 0.5 28
12 12 0 —  Nigeria 2 1 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 2 25
13 16 +3 +3  Ivory Coast 1 0 0 0.5 0 0 0 1 0 3 21
14 14 0 —  Cameroon 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0.5 1 0 16
15 13 -2 -2  Zambia 0 2.5 1 2 0 1.5 0 0.5 0 0 15
16 17 +1 +1  Congo 0 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 9.5
17 15 -2 -2  Senegal 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 9
18 21 +3 +3  Mali 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 7
19 30 +11 +11  Togo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 5
19 26 +7 +7  Uganda 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 5
21 18 -3 -3  Botswana 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4
22 19 -3 -3  Zimbabwe 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
23 19 -4 -4  Kenya 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
23 21 -2 -2  Eswatini 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.5 0 0 2
23 23 - —  Burkina Faso 0 0.5 0 0 0 0.5 0 0 0 0 2
23 24 +1 +1  Niger 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.5 0 0 2
27 24 -3 -3  Ghana 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
27 27 - —  Mauritania 0 0 0 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
27 27 - —  Benin 0 0 0 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 1


Association ranking for the 2024–25 CAF club season

The association ranking for the 2024–25 CAF Champions League and the 2024–25 CAF Confederation Cup is be based on results from each CAF club competition from 2019–20 to the 2023–24 season.

Legend
  • CL: CAF Champions League
  • CC: CAF Confederation Cup
  • ≥: Associations points might increase on basis of its clubs performance in 2023–24 CAF club competitions
  •   Associations ranked 1–12 are eligible to enter two teams in each CAF club competition.
Rank Association 2019–20
(× 1)		 2020–21
(× 2)		 2021–22
(× 3)		 2022–23
(× 4)		 2023–24
(× 5)		 Total
2024 2023 Mvt CL CC CL CC CL CC CL CC CL CC
1 2 +1 +1  Egypt 11 6 8 3 7 4 8 2.5 7 7 184
2 1 -1 -1  Morocco 8 8 4 6 9 5 8 2 2 4 148
3 3 - —  Algeria 3 1 6 5 7 1 6 5 2 3 119
4 4 - —  South Africa 3 0.5 8 2 5 4 4 3 4 1.5 106
5 5 - —  Tunisia 6 0 4 3 5 1 4 2 6 1 97
6 6 - —  Tanzania 0 0 3 0.5 0 2 3 4 6 0 71
7 7 - —  DR Congo 4 1 4 0 0 3 1 2 4 0 54
8 8 - —  Angola 4 0 1 0 5 0 2 0 3 1.5 51.5
9 9 - —  Sudan 2 0 2 0 3 0 3 0 2 0 37
10 11 +1 +1  Libya 0 2 0 0.5 0 5 0 0.5 0 3 35
11 13 +2 +2  Ivory Coast 0 0.5 0 0 0 1 0 3 3 0 30.5
12 12 - —  Nigeria 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 2 25
13 10 -3 -3  Guinea 0 3 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 0.5 20.5
14 27 +13 +13  Ghana 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 20
15 18 +4 +3  Mali 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 15
16 14 -2 -2  Cameroon 0 0 0 3 0 0.5 1 0 0 0 11.5
17 27 +10 +10  Mauritania 0 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 10.5
18 16 -2 -2  Congo 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0.5 9.5
19 21 +2 +2  Botswana 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 8
20 15 -5 -5  Zambia 1 2 0 1.5 0 0.5 0 0 0 0 7.5
21 17 -4 -4  Senegal 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 6
22 19 -3 -3  Togo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 4
22 19 -3 -3  Uganda 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 4
24 23 -1 -1  Eswatini 0 0 0 0 0 0.5 0 0 0 0 1.5
24 23 -1 -1  Niger 0 0 0 0 0 0.5 0 0 0 0 1.5
26 22 -4 -4  Zimbabwe 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
26 23 -3 -3  Burkina Faso 0 0 0 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
28 27 -1 -1  Benin 0 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.5

Past champions

Champions by season

Année Champion
1972 Mighty Jets (1)
1973 Bendel Insurance (1)
1974 Rangers International F.C. (1)
1975 Rangers International F.C. (2)
1976 Shooting Stars (1)
1977 Rangers International F.C. (3)
1978 Racca Rovers (1)
1979 Bendel Insurance (2)
1980 Shooting Stars (2)
1981 Rangers International F.C. (4)
1982 Rangers International F.C. (5)
1983 Shooting Stars (3)
1984 Rangers International F.C. (6)
1985 New Nigeria Bank FC (1)
1986 Leventis United (1)
1987 Iwuanyanwu Nationale (1)
1988 Iwuanyanwu Nationale (2)
1989 Iwuanyanwu Nationale (3)
1990 Iwuanyanwu Nationale (4)
1991 Julius Berger (1)
1992 Stationery Stores (1)
1993 Iwuanyanwu Nationale (5)
1994 BCC Lions (1)
1995 Shooting Stars (4)
1996 Udoji United (1)
1997 Dolphin F.C. (1)
1998 Shooting Stars (5)
1999 Lobi Stars (1)
2000 Julius Berger (2)
2001 Enyimba FC (1)
2002 Enyimba FC (2)
2003 Enyimba FC (3)
2004 Dolphin F.C. (2)
2005 Enyimba FC (4)
2006 Ocean Boys FC (1)
2007 Enyimba FC (5)
2008 Kano Pillars FC (1)
2009 Bayelsa United (1)
2010 Enyimba FC (6)
2011 Dolphin F.C. (3)
2012 Kano Pillars FC (2)
2013 Kano Pillars FC (3)
2014 Kano Pillars FC (4)
2015 Enyimba FC (7)
2016 Rangers International F.C. (7)
2017 Plateau United FC (1)
2018 Championship canceled
2019 Enyimba FC (8)
2020 Championship candeled due to Covid-19
2021 Akwa United FC (1)
2022 Rivers United (4)
2023 Enyimba FC (9)
2024 Rangers International F.C. (8)

Most titles won

Clubs Championship Years
Enyimba (Aba) 9 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2019, 2022–23
Rangers International (Enugu) 8 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1984, 2016, 2023–24
Shooting Stars (Ibadan) 5 1976, 1980, 1983, 1995, 1998
Heartland F.C. (Owerri) 5 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993
Kano Pillars (Kano) 4 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014
Rivers United (Includes Dolphin and Eagle Cement) (Port Harcourt) 4 1997, 2004, 2011, 2022
Bendel Insurance (Benin City) 2 1973, 1979
Julius Berger (Lagos) 2 1991, 2000
Lobi Stars (Makurdi) 1 1999
BCC Lions (Gboko) 1 1994
Stationery Stores (Lagos) 1 1992
Leventis United (Ibadan) 1 1986
Plateau United (Jos) 1 2017
Bayelsa United (Yenegoa) 1 2009
Ocean Boys (Brass) 1 2006
Udoji United (Awka) 1 1996
New Nigeria Bank (Benin City) 1 1985
Racca Rovers (Kano) 1 1978
Mighty Jets (Jos) 1 1972
Akwa United (Uyo) 1 2021

Top scorers

Year Top scorers Club Goals
1990 [24] Nigeria Ishaya Jatau Iwuanyanwu Nationale 17
1991 Nigeria Richard Ojomo Bendel United 12
1992 Nigeria Arthur Moses Stationary Stores 10
1993 Nigeria Anthony Nwaigwe Iwuanyanwu Nationale 13
1994 Nigeria Olumide Harris Shooting Stars 14
1995 Nigeria Ben Agawam Gombe United 12
1996 Nigeria Peter Anyiolobi Enyimba 9
1997 Democratic Republic of the Congo Paul Kpoughoul Jasper United/BCC Lions 16
1998 Nigeria Hassan Minna Gombe United 14
1999 Nigeria Emmanuel Ago Iwuanyanwu Nationale 14
2000 Nigeria Peter Ijeh Julius Berger 14
2001 Nigeria Uche Okereke Rangers International F.C. 13
2002 Ghana Joetex Frimpong / Victor Ezeji El-Kanemi Warriors / Sharks of Ph 16
2003 Nigeria Chibuzor Ozurumba

Nigeria Endurance Idahor		 Iwuanyanwu Nationale

Julius Berger		 13
2004 Nigeria Kabiru Alausa Julius Berger 13
2005 Nigeria Timothy Anjembe

NigeriaJoseph Akpala		 Lobi Stars

Bendel Insurance		 12
2006 Nigeria Ikechukwu Ibenegbu El-Kanemi Warriors 10
2007 Nigeria Aruwa Ameh Kaduna United 10
2008 Nigeria Abubakar Babale Wikki Tourists/Sunshine Stars 14
2009 Nigeria Orok Akarandut Akwa United 17
2010 Nigeria Ahmed Musa Kano Pillars 18
2011 Nigeria Jude Aneke Kaduna United 20
2012 [25] Nigeria Sibi Gwar Niger Tornadoes 17
2013 [25] Nigeria Victor Namo Nasarawa United 18
2014 [25] Nigeria Mfon Udoh Enyimba 23
2015 [26] Nigeria Gbolahan Salami Warri Wolves 17
2016 [25] Nigeria Godwin Obaje Wikki Tourists 18
2017 Nigeria Anthony Okpotu Lobi Stars 19
2018[6] Nigeria Junior Lokosa Kano Pillars 19
2019 Nigeria Mfon Udoh

Nigeria Sunusi Ibrahim

Akwa United

Nasarawa United		 10
2019–20 Nigeria Israel Abia [note 1] Rangers International F.C. 12
2020–21 Nigeria Silas Nwankwo

Nigeria Charles Atshimene

Nasarawa UnitedAkwa United 19
2021–22 Nigeria Chijioke Akuneto[27] Rivers United 19
2022–23 Nigeria Chukwuemeka Obioma Enyimba F.C. 16
"2023–24" Nigeria Chijioke Mbaoma Enyimba F.C. 17
  1. ^ Leading goalscorer as at the time of cancellation.

References

  1. ^ Walker, Andrew (28 July 2008). "Africa | Is Premier League killing Nigerian football?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  2. ^ Category: Weekend. "Guardian News Website – Dwindling fortunes of Nigeria's premier league". Ngrguardiannews.com. Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  3. ^ "NPFL:new name for Nigerian league". dailypost.ng. 8 January 2023. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  4. ^ "NFF approves NPFL name change". dailypost.ng. 10 September 2023. Archived from the original on 11 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  5. ^ "NFF, LMC sign strategic pact with Morocco football authorities". Archived from the original on 30 May 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Lokosa Gets Eunisell's N3.8m, Trophy as NPFL Top Scorer". ThisDay. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Plateau United wins Nigerian Professional Football League". Vanguardngr.com. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
  8. ^ "Nigerian league postponed indefinitely". Bbc.co.uk. 17 July 2018. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  9. ^ "LMC announces indefinite postponement of NPFL resumption". Nigeria Professional Football League. 16 July 2018. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  10. ^ Harry, Iwuala (1 September 2018). "LMC Document on season conclusion". npfl.ng. League Management Company. Archived from the original on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  11. ^ "NFF gives Nigeria Premier League green light on its AGM". Goal.com. 29 November 2012. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  12. ^ Segun, Solomon (26 April 2014). "History of the Nigerian Premier League". yeswefoot.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Kudos to the League Management Company". Vanguardngr.com. 7 October 2016. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  14. ^ "About League Management Company". Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  15. ^ "Faqs". Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  16. ^ "Nigeria Football League gets 34 million dollars TV rights deal". venturesafrica.com. 20 August 2013. Archived from the original on 14 September 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  17. ^ "Supersports pulls out of partnership with NPFL". Nationaldailyng.com. 24 April 2017. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  18. ^ Ahmadu, Samuel (22 August 2015). "Shehu Dikko appeals to governors for stadia facilities upgrade". Goal. Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  19. ^ "About the LMC". npfl.ng. Archived from the original on 16 April 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  20. ^ "Nigeria Football Federation adopts FIFA TMS domestic transfer matching system". FIFA.com. 5 July 2016. Archived from the original on 1 January 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  21. ^ "Shehu Dikko is the new League Management Company boss". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  22. ^ "Kenyan League ranked Worst in Africa". Nairobi Wire. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  23. ^ "KPL becomes last in IFFHS World rankings". Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  24. ^ "The Nigerian league's top scorers' jinx – SuperSport – Football". SuperSport. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  25. ^ a b c d "ODEY'S TARGET: Top Scorers In Last Five NPFL Seasons". Complete Sports. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  26. ^ "Gbolahan Salami finishes as NPFL's top scorer". DailyPost Nigeria. Archived from the original on 30 January 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  27. ^ "3.8m and Golden boot: Charles Akuneto receives his NPFL top scorer prize". Nigeria sports news, transfers & gossips. 14 September 2022. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
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