TheNigerian Premier Football League(NPFL) (formerly theNigerian Professional Football League) is the highest level of club football inNigerian 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 theNigeria National League(NNL). It is organized by the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Board headed by Mr.Gbenga Elegbeleye.
| Founded | 1972 |
|---|---|
| Country | Nigeria |
| Confederation | CAF |
| Number of clubs | 20 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegationto | Nigeria National League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Nigerian FA Cup Nigerian Super Cup |
| International cup(s) | Champions League Confederation Cup |
| Current champions | Rangers International F.C.(2023–24) (8th title) |
| Most championships | Enyimba(9 titles) |
| Most appearances | Rabiu Ali(407) |
| TV partners | Propel Sports Africa StarTimes |
| Website | npfl.ng |
| Current:2024–25 Nigeria Premier Football League | |
Name history
editThe 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
editOn 27 April 2016, TheLiga Nacional de Fútbol Profesionalorganisers of theLa Ligasealed a five-yearmemorandum of understandingdeal with the NPFL on capacity building and idea exchange signed by the League Management Company chairman,Shehu Dikkoand theLa LigaPresidentJavier Tebas.The NPFL andLa Ligapartnership has already started bearing fruit as during the January transfer window,Super Eaglesfringe playerEzekiel Basseywas signed on loan fromEnyimbatoBarcelona Bon 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 likeAtlético Madrid,Málaga,Valencia,Villarealetc. 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 theLeague 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 ofMorocco,NFF President Amaju Pinnick and NFF 2nd Vice-president/ LMC ChairmanShehu Dikkoput pen to paper on amemorandum of understandingwith 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 inRabat,while the LMC 's Chairman, Shehu Dikko and Chairman of the Ligue Nationale de Football Professionnel (which organises theBotola), Said Naciri signed at the LNFP office, watched by the two FA Boss es.[5]
Eunisell,Bet9jaand Hero lager are current sponsors of the NPFL.[6]
History
edit2017 season
editPlateau United F.C.won the league on 9 September 2017, with a 2–0 victory overRangers International F.C..[7]
2018 season
editIn July 2018 the league was postponed indefinitely following crisis in the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).[8][9]Lobi Starswas 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
editThe league consisted of 24 teams. Four were promoted from theNigeria 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 inLagos.The People's Elephant finished at the top of the log with 12 points from five games.
EnyimbavsKano Pillarsis 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
editThe League Management Company (shortly and commonly known as the 'LMC') is the legalassociation footballLeaguegoverning bodyof the Nigeria Professional Football League. It was created and incorporated by theNigeria Football Federationin 2012 to take over the nearly-collapsed Nigeria Football League (NFL), the former league governing body.[11]
History
editThe NFF created the Nigeria Premier League, organized by the Nigeria Football League in 1990 as a step in attainingfull professionalismas the sole regulatory forfootball in Nigeria.At theOnikan Stadiumon 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 theNational Sports Commission,Nigeria'ssports 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
editThe 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 theTMS Domestic Transfer Matching System(DTMS), becoming the first league inAfricato do so.[20]
The League Management Company is currently headed byShehu Dikko.[21]
Awards
editIn 2012, the NPFL was ranked as the best in Africa and 24th best in the world by theIFFHS,the rating puts it a spot above theScottish Premier Leaguefor the year.[22][23]
Association Ranking for the 2023–24 CAF club season
editThe association ranking for the2023–24 CAF Champions Leagueand the2023–24 CAF Confederation Cupwill 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 |
 South Africa
|
6 | 0 | 3 | 0.5 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 114 |
| 5 | 4 |  -1 |
 Tunisia
|
8 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 101 |
| 6 | 11 | +5 |
 Tanzania
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 56.5 |
| 7 | 6 | -1 |
 DR Congo
|
5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 54 |
| 8 | 7 | -1 |
 Angola
|
0 | 0.5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 41.5 |
| 9 | 8 | -1 |
 Sudan
|
0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 39 |
| 10 | 10 | — |
 Guinea
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 29 |
| 11 | 9 | -2 |
 Libya
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0.5 | 28 |
| 12 | 12 | — |
 Nigeria
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 25 |
| 13 | 16 | +3 |
 Ivory Coast
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 21 |
| 14 | 14 | — |
 Cameroon
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| 15 | 13 | -2 |
 Zambia
|
0 | 2.5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | +1 |
 Congo
|
0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9.5 |
| 17 | 15 | -2 |
 Senegal
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 18 | 21 | +3 |
 Mali
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 19 | 30 | +11 |
 Togo
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 19 | 26 | +7 |
 Uganda
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 21 | 18 | -3 |
 Botswana
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 22 | 19 | -3 |
 Zimbabwe
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 23 | 19 | -4 |
 Kenya
|
0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 23 | 21 | -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 |
 Niger
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 27 | 24 | -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
editThe association ranking for the2024–25 CAF Champions Leagueand the2024–25 CAF Confederation Cupis 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 |
Egypt
|
11 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 2.5 | 7 | 7 | 184 |
| 2 | 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 |
Libya
|
0 | 2 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 3 | 35 |
| 11 | 13 | +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 |
Guinea
|
0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 20.5 |
| 14 | 27 | +13 |
Ghana
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 20 |
| 15 | 18 | +3 |
Mali
|
0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 15 |
| 16 | 14 | -2 |
Cameroon
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11.5 |
| 17 | 27 | +10 |
Mauritania
|
0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10.5 |
| 18 | 16 | -2 |
Congo
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.5 | 9.5 |
| 19 | 21 | +2 |
Botswana
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| 20 | 15 | -5 |
Zambia
|
1 | 2 | 0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.5 |
| 21 | 17 | -4 |
Senegal
|
0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 22 | 19 | -3 |
Togo
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 22 | 19 | -3 |
Uganda
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 24 | 23 | -1 |
Eswatini
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 |
| 24 | 23 | -1 |
Niger
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 |
| 26 | 22 | -4 |
Zimbabwe
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 26 | 23 | -3 |
Burkina Faso
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 28 | 27 | -1 |
Benin
|
0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 |
Past champions
editChampions by season
editMost titles won
edit| 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(IncludesDolphinand 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
edit- ^Leading goalscorer as at the time of cancellation.
References
edit- ^Walker, Andrew (28 July 2008)."Africa | Is Premier League killing Nigerian football?".BBC News.Archivedfrom the original on 15 January 2009.Retrieved7 December2013.
- ^Category: Weekend."Guardian News Website – Dwindling fortunes of Nigeria's premier league".Ngrguardiannews.Archived fromthe originalon 13 December 2013.Retrieved7 December2013.
- ^"NPFL:new name for Nigerian league".dailypost.ng.8 January 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 11 June 2023.Retrieved11 June2023.
- ^"NFF approves NPFL name change".dailypost.ng.10 September 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 11 September 2023.Retrieved12 September2023.
- ^"NFF, LMC sign strategic pact with Morocco football authorities".Archived fromthe originalon 30 May 2017.Retrieved28 May2017.
- ^ab"Lokosa Gets Eunisell's N3.8m, Trophy as NPFL Top Scorer".ThisDay.Archivedfrom the original on 22 January 2019.Retrieved22 January2019.
- ^"Plateau United wins Nigerian Professional Football League".Vanguardngr.Archivedfrom the original on 12 September 2017.Retrieved9 September2017.
- ^"Nigerian league postponed indefinitely".Bbc.co.uk.17 July 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 18 July 2018.Retrieved17 July2018.
- ^"LMC announces indefinite postponement of NPFL resumption".Nigeria Professional Football League.16 July 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 19 July 2018.Retrieved19 July2018.
- ^Harry, Iwuala (1 September 2018)."LMC Document on season conclusion".npfl.ng.League Management Company.Archivedfrom the original on 13 June 2020.Retrieved15 May2020.
- ^"NFF gives Nigeria Premier League green light on its AGM".Goal.29 November 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 17 October 2020.Retrieved10 August2020.
- ^Segun, Solomon (26 April 2014)."History of the Nigerian Premier League".yeswefoot.Archivedfrom the original on 19 September 2020.Retrieved10 August2020.
- ^"Kudos to the League Management Company".Vanguardngr.7 October 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 15 October 2020.Retrieved11 October2020.
- ^"About League Management Company".Archived fromthe originalon 6 June 2017.Retrieved10 August2020.
- ^"Faqs".Archived fromthe originalon 31 May 2017.Retrieved10 August2020.
- ^"Nigeria Football League gets 34 million dollars TV rights deal".venturesafrica.20 August 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 14 September 2019.Retrieved10 August2020.
- ^"Supersports pulls out of partnership with NPFL".Nationaldailyng.24 April 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 27 March 2023.Retrieved11 October2020.
- ^Ahmadu, Samuel (22 August 2015)."Shehu Dikko appeals to governors for stadia facilities upgrade".Goal.Archivedfrom the original on 1 June 2019.Retrieved1 June2019.
- ^"About the LMC".npfl.ng.Archivedfrom the original on 16 April 2020.Retrieved10 August2020.
- ^"Nigeria Football Federation adopts FIFA TMS domestic transfer matching system".FIFA.5 July 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 1 January 2021.Retrieved10 August2020.
- ^"Shehu Dikko is the new League Management Company Boss".Goal.Archivedfrom the original on 30 April 2019.Retrieved10 August2020.
- ^"Kenyan League ranked Worst in Africa".Nairobi Wire.Archivedfrom the original on 20 March 2014.Retrieved20 March2014.
- ^"KPL becomes last in IFFHS World rankings".Archivedfrom the original on 20 March 2014.Retrieved20 March2014.
- ^"The Nigerian league's top scorers' jinx – SuperSport – Football".SuperSport.Archivedfrom the original on 11 December 2013.Retrieved7 December2013.
- ^abcd"ODEY'S TARGET: Top Scorers In Last Five NPFL Seasons".Complete Sports.Archivedfrom the original on 30 January 2018.Retrieved30 January2018.
- ^"Gbolahan Salami finishes as NPFL's top scorer".DailyPost Nigeria.Archivedfrom the original on 30 January 2018.Retrieved30 January2018.
- ^"3.8m and Golden boot: Charles Akuneto receives his NPFL top scorer prize".Nigeria sports news, transfers & gossips.14 September 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 5 October 2022.Retrieved5 October2022.