Nigeria Premier League

Nigeria Premier League
Country Nigeria
Confederation CAF
Founded 2003
Number of teams 20
Level on pyramid 1
Relegation to Nigeria National League
Domestic cup(s) Nigerian FA Cup
Nigerian Super Cup
International cup(s) Champions League
Confederation Cup
Current champions Enyimba F.C. (2015)
Most championships Enyimba F.C. (7)
Website http://www.lmc-ng.org/
2016

The Nigeria Premier League is the highest level of domestic Nigerian football.[1][2] It is fed into by the Nigeria National League (NNL). It is organized by the League Management Company.

On May 2013, Lagosian telecommunications company Globacom signed a three-year contract with the league to become its title sponsor. Thus the league is now officially known as the Glo Premier League.[3] 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.[4][5]

History

The league was founded in 1972 with six teams. On 12 May 1990 at the Onikan Stadium Lagos, the league was rechristened the "Professional League" with a goal to modernize the game and make clubs self-sufficient.

From 1999–2007, there was an end of season Championship called the "Super Four". The top four teams would play a round-robin mini-league at a neutral site to determine the league champion. The Super Four is now a pre-season tournament featuring the top four teams of the prior year.

After the 2006 competition, the league changed its calendar to more closely match the common European regular season structure (starting around August and ending around May).

The League Management Company

The League Management Company was formed in 2012 following the collapse of the Nigeria Premier League organized by the Nigeria Football League (NFL). The Nigerian Football Association, owner of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) issued the League Management Company the license to organize and regulate the top tier league to meet global technical and commercial standards.

The League Management Company instituted match indemnities for match officials, sanctions on clubs who fail to pay salaries and allowances to their players.

In 2015, the League Management Company solicited financial support from the Government financially in order to "upgrade of existing grounds and provision of required broadcast equipment and facilities in the stadiums”. [6]

Winners

Clubs Championship Years
Enyimba (Aba) 7 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2015
Rangers International (Enugu) 6 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1984
Shooting Stars (Ibadan) 5 1976, 1980, 1983, 1995, 1998
Iwuanyanwu Nationale/Heartland (Owerri) 5 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993
Kano Pillars (Kano) 4 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014
Dolphins (Port Harcourt) 3 1997, 2004, 2011
Julius Berger/Bridge Boys (Lagos) 2 1991, 2000
Bendel Insurance (Benin City) 2 1973, 1979
Bayelsa United (Yenegoa) 1 2009
Ocean Boys (Brass) 1 2006
Lobi Stars (Makurdi) 1 1999
Udoji United (Awka) 1 1996
BCC Lions (Gboko) 1 1994
Stationery Stores (Lagos) 1 1992
Leventis United (Ibadan) 1 1986
New Nigeria Bank (Benin City) 1 1985
Racca Rovers (Kano) 1 1978
Mighty Jets (Jos) 1 1972

Topscorers

[7]

Year Best scorers Team Goals
2002 Ghana Joetex Frimpong El-Kanemi Warriors 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
2007–08 Nigeria Abubakar Babale Wikki Tourists/Sunshine Stars 14
2008–09 Nigeria Orok Akarandut Akwa United 17
2009–10 Nigeria Ahmed Musa Kano Pillars 18
2010–11 Nigeria Jude Aneke Kaduna United 20
2012 Nigeria Sibi Gwar Niger Tornadoes 17
2013 Nigeria Victor Namo Nasarawa United 18
2014 Nigeria Mfon Udoh Enyimba 23
2015 Nigeria Gbolahan Salami Warri Wolves 17

References

  1. ↑ Walker, Andrew (2008-07-28). "Africa | Is Premier League killing Nigerian football?". BBC News. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  2. ↑ Category: Weekend. "Guardian News Website – Dwindling fortunes of Nigeria’s premier league". Ngrguardiannews.com. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  3. ↑ "Glo now title sponsor of Nigeria Premier League". Glo World. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  4. ↑ "Kenyan League ranked Worst in Africa". Nairobi Wire. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  5. ↑ "KPL becomes last in IFFHS World rankings". Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  6. ↑ http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4111/npfl/2015/08/22/14649642/shehu-dikko-appeals-to-governors-for-stadia-facilities
  7. ↑ "The Nigerian league’s top scorers’ jinx – SuperSport – Football". SuperSport. Retrieved 2013-12-07.

External links

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