Nigerian Professional Football League

Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL)
Founded 1972 (1972)
Country Nigeria
Confederation CAF
Number of teams 20
Level on pyramid 1
Relegation to Nigeria National League
Domestic cup(s) Nigerian FA Cup
Nigerian Super Cup
Super 4 (Nigeria)
International cup(s) Champions League
Confederation Cup
Current champions Plateau United (2017) (1st title) [1]
Most championships Enyimba F.C. and Enugu Rangers (7)
TV partners SuperSport
Website npfl.ng
2018 season

The Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) is the highest level of the Nigerian football league system, for the Nigerian Club-football Championships. But the Nigerian top-division had experienced many dwindling fortunes, since the late 2000s. [2] [3] It is fed into by the Nigeria National League (NNL). It is organized by the League Management Company (LMC).

Name

It was formerly known as the Nigerian Premier League for the second time, as of the 2012/2013 Season from the 2003/2004 Season; "Nigerian Premiership" (2000–2003); "Nigerian Premier League", first time (1993–2000); "Nigerian Professional League" (1990–1993); Nigerian National League - First Division (1979–1990) and "the (Nigerian) National League" or "Nigerian Football League" (1972–1979), [4]

The League Management Company

This is the legal League board or body that was incorporated in November, 2012, by the Nigeria Football Federation to take over the nearly-collapsed NPL. 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) (P'F'L) i.e. just "Professional League" or "Football League" inside Nigeria.[5][6]

In 2015, the League Management Company solicited financial support from the Government in order to "upgrade of existing grounds and provision of required broadcast equipment and facilities in the stadiums”.[7]

International Partnerships

On 27, April 2016, The Liga de Fútbol Profesional (LFP) organizers 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 Atletico Madrid, Malaga, Valencia, Villareal etc. In an effort to expose and test Local players against top players and sides.

In Thursday, May 25, 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.[8]

History

2017 season

Plateau United F.C. won the league on the 9th of September, 2017, with a 2–0 victory over Enugu Rangers.[1]

2018 season

In July 2018 the league was postponed indefinitely following crisis in the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).[9][10]

Best Global Reputation

In 2012, the NPL 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.[11][12]

List of past champions

Champions by season

Most titles won

Clubs Championship Years
Enyimba (Aba)72001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2015
Rangers International (Enugu)71971, 1974, 1975, 1981, 1982, 1984, 2016
Shooting Stars (Ibadan)51976, 1980, 1983, 1995, 1998
Iwuanyanwu Nationale (Owerri)51987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993
Kano Pillars (Kano)42008, 2012, 2013, 2014
Dolphin (Port Harcourt) (Includes Eagle Cement)31997, 2004, 2011
Bendel Insurance (Benin City)21973, 1979
Julius Berger (Lagos)21991, 2000
Lobi Stars (Makurdi)21999, 2018
BCC Lions (Gboko)11994
Stationery Stores (Lagos)11992
Leventis United (Ibadan)11986
Plateau United (Jos)12017
Bayelsa United (Yenegoa)12009
Ocean Boys (Brass)12006
Udoji United (Awka)11996
New Nigeria Bank (Benin City)11985
Racca Rovers (Kano)11978
Mighty Jets (Jos)11972

Topscorers

Year Best/Top scorers Team Goals
1990 [13] Nigeria Ishaya JatauIwuanyanwu Nationale17
1991 Nigeria Richard OjomoBendel United12
1992 Nigeria Arthur MosesSuper Stores10
1993 Nigeria Tony NwigweIwuanyanwu Nationale13
1994 Nigeria Olumide HarrisShooting Stars14
1995 Nigeria Ben AgawamGombe United F.C.12
1996 Nigeria Peter AnyiolobiEnyimba9
1997 notavailable Paul KpoughoulJasper United/BCC Lions16
1998 Nigeria Hassan MinnaGombe United14
1999 Nigeria Emmanuel AgoIwuanyanwu Nationale14
2000 Nigeria Peter IjehJulius Berger14
2001 Nigeria Uche OkerekeEnugu Rangers13
2002 Ghana Joetex FrimpongEl-Kanemi Warriors16
2003 Nigeria Chibuzor Ozurumba
Nigeria Endurance Idahor		Iwuanyanwu Nationale
Julius Berger		13
2004 Nigeria Kabiru AlausaJulius Berger13
2005 Nigeria Timothy Anjembe
NigeriaJoseph Akpala		Lobi Stars
Bendel Insurance		12
2006 Nigeria Ikechukwu IbenegbuEl-Kanemi Warriors10
2007 Nigeria Aruwa AmehKaduna United10
2008 Nigeria Abubakar BabaleWikki Tourists/Sunshine Stars14
2009 Nigeria Orok AkarandutAkwa United17
2010 Nigeria Ahmed MusaKano Pillars18
2011 Nigeria Jude AnekeKaduna United20
2012 [14] Nigeria Sibi GwarNiger Tornadoes17
2013 [14] Nigeria Victor NamoNasarawa United18
2014 [14] Nigeria Mfon UdohEnyimba23
2015 [15] Nigeria Gbolahan SalamiWarri Wolves17
2016 [14] Nigeria Godwin ObajeWikki Tourists18
2017 Nigeria Anthony OkpotuLobi Stars19

References

  1. 1 2 "Plateau United wins Nigerian Professional Football League". Vanguardngr.com.
  2. ↑ Walker, Andrew (2008-07-28). "Africa | Is Premier League killing Nigerian football?". BBC News. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  3. ↑ Category: Weekend. "Guardian News Website – Dwindling fortunes of Nigeria's premier league". Ngrguardiannews.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  4. ↑ "Nigeria Champions". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
  5. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-06-06. Retrieved 2017-05-28.
  6. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-05-31. Retrieved 2017-05-28.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-05-30. Retrieved 2017-05-28.
  9. ↑ "Nigerian league postponed indefinitely". Bbc.co.uk. 17 July 2018.
  10. ↑ "LMC announces indefinite postponement of NPFL resumption". Nigeria Professional Football League. 2018-07-16. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  11. ↑ "Kenyan League ranked Worst in Africa". Nairobi Wire. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  12. ↑ "KPL becomes last in IFFHS World rankings". Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  13. ↑ "The Nigerian league's top scorers' jinx – SuperSport – Football". SuperSport. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "ODEY'S TARGET: Top Scorers In Last Five NPFL Seasons". Complete Sports.
  15. ↑ "Gbolahan Salami finishes as NPFL's top scorer". DailyPost Nigeria. Retrieved 2018-01-30.
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