Nigeria Professional Football League Explained

Nigeria Premier Football League
Pixels:170px
Country:Nigeria
Confed:CAF
Teams:20
Relegation:Nigeria National League
Levels:1
Domest Cup:Nigerian FA Cup
Nigerian Super Cup
Confed Cup:Champions League
Confederation Cup
Champions:Rangers International F.C.(2023–24) (8th title)
Most Successful Club:Enyimba (9 titles)
Most Appearances:Rabiu Ali (406)
Tv:Propel Sports AfricaNPFL Live StarTimes
Website:npfl.com.ng
Current:2023–24 Nigeria Professional 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 ingeneral 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.

History

2017 season

Plateau United F.C. won the league on 9 September 2017, with a 2–0 victory over Rangers International F.C..[6]

2018 season

In July 2018 the league was postponed indefinitely following crisis in the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).[7] [8] 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.[9]

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.[10]

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'.[11]

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.[12] 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)[13] [14] Also, the LMC signed a $34m TV rights deal to broadcast league matches which lasted until 2017[15] [16]

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.[17]

The League Management Company has its framework and rules governing the 20 clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League each season.[18] On 5 July 2016, the NPFL adopted the TMS Domestic Transfer Matching System (DTMS), becoming the first league in Africa to do so.[19]

The League Management Company is currently headed by Shehu Dikko.[20]

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.[21] [22]

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
Rank Association 2018–19
2019–20
2020–21
2021–22
2022-23
Total
2023 2022 Mvt
1157884695≥82
22451168374≥72.5
335131657165
45 +16030.5825443
54 -18660435142
611 +5300030.50234
76 -15041400312
87 -100.540105020
98 -10220203030
10103003201020
119 -2000200.50500.5
12122103020002
1316 +31000.5000103
141400000300.510
1513 -202.51201.500.500
1617 +100.500000101
1715 -20000120000
1821 +30001000001
1930 +110000000001
1926 +70000000010
2118 -30000001000
2219 -31010000000
2319 -40200000000
2321 -200000000.500
232300.50000.50000
2324 +100000000.500
2724 -30100000000
27270000.5000000
27270000.5000000

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
Rank Association 2019–20
2020–21
2021–22
2022–23
2023–24
Total
2024 2023 Mvt
12 +1116837482.577
21 -18846958224
333165716523
4430.582544341.5
556043514261
660030.5023460
774140031240
884010502031.5
992020303020
1011 +10200.50500.503
1113 +200.500010330
12120302000202
1310 -30320102000.5
1427 +130000000013
1518 +30100000102
1614 -2000300.51000
1727 +1000.500000020
1816 -20000010100.5
1921 +20000100010
2015 -51201.500.50000
2117 -40012000000
2219 -30000000100
2219 -30000001000
2423 -1000000.50000
2423 -1000000.50000
2622 -41000000000
2623 -30000.5000000
2827 -100.500000000

Past champions

Champions by season

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

Most titles won

ClubsChampionshipYears
Enyimba (Aba) 92001, 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

YearTop scorersClubGoals
1990 [23] 17
199112
199210
199313
199414
199512
19969
199716
199814
199914
200014
200113
200216
200313
200413
200512
200610
200710
200814
200917
201018
2011 20
2012 [24] 17
2013 18
2014 Enyimba23
2015 [25] 17
2016 18
201719
2018[26] 19
2019 Mfon Udoh

Sunusi Ibrahim

10
2019–20 12
2020–21 Silas Nwankwo

Charles Atshimene

19
Chijioke Akuneto[27] Rivers United19
2022–23 Chukwuemeka ObiomaEnyimba F.C.16
"2023–24" Chijioke MbaomaEnyimba F.C.17

References

https://punchng.com/nff-approves-new-npfl-name/

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Walker . Andrew . Africa | Is Premier League killing Nigerian football? . . 28 July 2008 . 7 December 2013 . 15 January 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090115070500/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7526005.stm . live .
  2. Web site: Category: Weekend . Guardian News Website – Dwindling fortunes of Nigeria's premier league . Ngrguardiannews.com . 7 December 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131213012410/http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php/features/weekend/133909--dwindling-fortunes-of-nigerias-premier-league . 13 December 2013 .
  3. Web site: NPFL:new name for Nigerian league. dailypost.ng. 8 January 2023. 11 June 2023. 11 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230611194209/https://dailypost.ng/2023/01/07/npfl-new-name-for-nigerian-league-as-akwa-united-insurance-clash-in-season-opener/. live.
  4. Web site: NFF approves NPFL name change. dailypost.ng. 10 September 2023. 12 September 2023. 11 September 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230911150911/https://dailypost.ng/2023/09/10/nff-approves-npfl-name-change/. live.
  5. Web site: NFF, LMC sign strategic pact with Morocco football authorities . 28 May 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170530121503/http://npfl.ng/index.php/news-features/lmc-news-updates/2234-nff-lmc-sign-strategic-pact-with-morocco-football-authorities . 30 May 2017 . dead .
  6. Web site: Plateau United wins Nigerian Professional Football League. Vanguardngr.com. 9 September 2017. 12 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170912221423/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/09/breaking-plateau-united-wins-20162017-npfl-title/. live.
  7. Web site: Nigerian league postponed indefinitely. 17 July 2018. Bbc.co.uk. 17 July 2018. 18 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180718204226/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44859587. live.
  8. News: LMC announces indefinite postponement of NPFL resumption. 16 July 2018. Nigeria Professional Football League. 19 July 2018. en-US. 19 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180719143901/http://npfl.ng/lmc-announces-indefinite-postponement-of-npfl-resumption/. live.
  9. Web site: Harry . Iwuala . LMC Document on season conclusion. . npfl.ng . League Management Company . 15 May 2020 . 1 September 2018 . 13 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200613191550/https://npfl.ng/lmc-general-annual-meetings/public-statement-on-league-conclusion/ . live .
  10. Web site: NFF gives Nigeria Premier League green light on its AGM . . 29 November 2012 . 10 August 2020 . 17 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201017044223/https://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4093/nigerian-football/2012/11/29/3566201/nigeria-football-federation-gives-nigeria-premier-league . live .
  11. Web site: History of the Nigerian Premier League. Segun. Solomon. yeswefoot.com. 26 April 2014. 10 August 2020. 19 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200919120952/http://www.yeswefoot.com/history-of-nigeria-premier-league/. live.
  12. Web site: Kudos to the League Management Company. Vanguardngr.com. 7 October 2016. 11 October 2020. 15 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201015115309/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/10/kudos-league-management-company-lmc/. live.
  13. Web site: About League Management Company . 10 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170606045717/http://npfl.ng/index.php/league-management-company-lmc . 6 June 2017 . dead .
  14. Web site: Faqs . 10 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170531223815/http://www.npfl.ng/index.php/about-npfl/league-management-company-lmc/faqs . 31 May 2017 . dead .
  15. Web site: Nigeria Football League gets 34 million dollars TV rights deal. venturesafrica.com. 20 August 2013. 10 August 2020. 14 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190914052933/http://venturesafrica.com/nigeria-football-league-gets-34m-tv-rights-deal/. live.
  16. Web site: Supersports pulls out of partnership with NPFL. Nationaldailyng.com. 24 April 2017. 11 October 2020. 27 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230327233605/https://nationaldailyng.com/super-sports-pulled-out-partnership-with-npfl/. live.
  17. Web site: Shehu Dikko appeals to governors for stadia facilities upgrade. Ahmadu. Samuel. 22 August 2015. Goal. 1 June 2019. 1 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190601193339/https://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4111/npfl/2015/08/22/14649642/shehu-dikko-appeals-to-governors-for-stadia-facilities. live.
  18. Web site: About the LMC. npfl.ng. 10 August 2020. 16 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200416201632/https://npfl.ng/lmc/. live.
  19. Web site: Nigeria Football Federation adopts FIFA TMS domestic transfer matching system. FIFA.com. 5 July 2016. 10 August 2020. 1 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210101135713/https://www.fifa.com/who-we-are/news/nigeria-football-federation-adopts-fifa-tms-domestic-transfer-matching-2811049. live.
  20. Web site: Shehu Dikko is the new League Management Company boss. Goal.com. 10 August 2020. 30 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190430210100/https://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4111/npfl/2014/12/27/7439252/shehu-dikko-is-new-league-management-company-boss. live.
  21. Web site: Kenyan League ranked Worst in Africa . Nairobi Wire . 20 March 2014 . 20 March 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140320142635/http://nairobiwire.com/2012/07/kenya-premier-league-ranked-worst.html . live .
  22. Web site: KPL becomes last in IFFHS World rankings . 20 March 2014 . 20 March 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140320125433/http://www.michezoafrika.com/kpl/kpl-last-in-iffhs-world-league-rankings/7554 . live .
  23. Web site: The Nigerian league's top scorers' jinx – SuperSport – Football . SuperSport . 7 December 2013 . 11 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131211164057/http://www.supersport.com/football/nigeria50/news/110315/The_Nigerian_leagues_top_scorers_jinx . live .
  24. Web site: ODEY'S TARGET: Top Scorers In Last Five NPFL Seasons . Complete Sports . 30 January 2018 . 30 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180130204325/https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/odeys-target-top-scorers-last-five-npfl-seasons/ . live .
  25. Web site: Gbolahan Salami finishes as NPFL's top scorer . DailyPost Nigeria . 30 January 2018 . 30 January 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180130091324/http://dailypost.ng/2015/11/17/gbolahan-salami-finishes-as-npfls-top-scorer/ . live .
  26. Web site: Lokosa Gets Eunisell's N3.8m, Trophy as NPFL Top Scorer . ThisDay . 22 January 2019 . 22 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190122044307/https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/11/09/lokosa-gets-eunisells-n3-8m-trophy-as-npfl-top-scorer/ . live .
  27. Web site: 2022-09-14 . 3.8m and Golden boot: Charles Akuneto receives his NPFL top scorer prize . 2022-10-05 . Nigeria sports news, transfers & gossips . en-US . 5 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221005014922/https://sportsration.com/3-8m-and-golden-boot-charles-akuneto-receives-his-npfl-top-scorer-prize/ . live .