Nigerian Professional Football League

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

Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL)
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Founded1972 (1972)
CountryNigeria
ConfederationCAF
Number of teams20
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toNigeria National League
Domestic cup(s)Nigerian FA Cup
Nigerian Super Cup
Super 4 (Nigeria)
International cup(s)Champions League
Confederation Cup
Current championsEnyimba F.C. (2019) [1]
Most championshipsEnyimba F.C. (8)
TV partnersSuperSport
Websitenpfl.ng
2019–2020 Nigeria Professional Football League

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) 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.[8]

Eunisell has also been a sponsor of NPFL.[9]

History

2017 season

Plateau United F.C. won the league on 9 September 2017, with a 2–0 victory over Enugu Rangers.[10]

2018 season

In July 2018 the league was postponed indefinitely following crisis in the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).[11][12] 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.[13]

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.

Awards

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.[14][15]

Past champions

Champions by season


Most titles won
Clubs Championship Years
Enyimba (Aba)82001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2019
Rangers International (Enugu)71974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1984, 2016
Shooting Stars (Ibadan)51976, 1980, 1983, 1995, 1998
Heartland F.C. (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)11999
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 [16] Ishaya JatauIwuanyanwu Nationale17
1991 Richard OjomoBendel United12
1992 Arthur MosesSuper Stores10
1993 Tony NwigweIwuanyanwu Nationale13
1994 Olumide HarrisShooting Stars14
1995 Ben AgawamGombe United F.C.12
1996 Peter AnyiolobiEnyimba9
1997 Paul KpoughoulJasper United/BCC Lions16
1998 Hassan MinnaGombe United14
1999 Emmanuel AgoIwuanyanwu Nationale14
2000 Peter IjehJulius Berger14
2001 Uche OkerekeEnugu Rangers13
2002 Joetex FrimpongEl-Kanemi Warriors16
2003 Chibuzor Ozurumba
Endurance Idahor		Iwuanyanwu Nationale
Julius Berger		13
2004 Kabiru AlausaJulius Berger13
2005 Timothy Anjembe
Joseph Akpala		Lobi Stars
Bendel Insurance		12
2006 Ikechukwu IbenegbuEl-Kanemi Warriors10
2007 Aruwa AmehKaduna United10
2008 Abubakar BabaleWikki Tourists/Sunshine Stars14
2009 Orok AkarandutAkwa United17
2010 Ahmed MusaKano Pillars18
2011 Jude AnekeKaduna United20
2012 [17] Sibi GwarNiger Tornadoes17
2013 [17] Victor NamoNasarawa United18
2014 [17] Mfon UdohEnyimba23
2015 [18] Gbolahan SalamiWarri Wolves17
2016 [17] Godwin ObajeWikki Tourists18
2017 Anthony OkpotuLobi Stars19
2018[9] Junior LokosaKano Pillars19
2019 Mfon Udoh
Sunusi Ibrahim		 Akwa united
. Nasarawa united		10
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References
  1. Vanguardngr.com https://guardian.ng/sport/enyimba-thrash-akwa-united-win-record-seventh-npfl-title/ampLeague. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. Walker, Andrew (28 July 2008). "Africa | Is Premier League killing Nigerian football?". BBC News. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  3. 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.
  4. "Nigeria Champions". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. Ahmadu, Samuel (22 August 2015). "Shehu Dikko appeals to governors for stadia facilities upgrade". Goal. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 May 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Lokosa Gets Eunisell's N3.8m, Trophy as NPFL Top Scorer". ThisDay. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  10. "Plateau United wins Nigerian Professional Football League". Vanguardngr.com.
  11. "Nigerian league postponed indefinitely". Bbc.co.uk. 17 July 2018.
  12. "LMC announces indefinite postponement of NPFL resumption". Nigeria Professional Football League. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  13. Harry, Iwuala (1 September 2018). "LMC Document on season conclusion". npfl.ng. League Management Company. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  14. "Kenyan League ranked Worst in Africa". Nairobi Wire. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  15. "KPL becomes last in IFFHS World rankings". Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  16. "The Nigerian league's top scorers' jinx – SuperSport – Football". SuperSport. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  17. "ODEY'S TARGET: Top Scorers In Last Five NPFL Seasons". Complete Sports.
  18. "Gbolahan Salami finishes as NPFL's top scorer". DailyPost Nigeria. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
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