Country Nigeria Current champions Enugu Rangers (2016) Number of teams 20 Levels on pyramid 1 | Level on pyramid 1 Date founded 2003 Domestic cup Nigeria Federation Cup | |
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Relegation to Nigeria National League International cup(s) Champions League
Confederation Cup Most championships Enyimba F.C. and Enugu Rangers (7) Current champion Enugu Rangers (2016 Nigeria Professional Football League) Confederation Confederation of African Football Teams Enyimba International FC, Ifeanyi Ubah FC, Enugu Rangers, Kano Pillars FC, Akwa United FC Profiles | ||
The Nigeria Professional Football League formerly known as the '"Nigeria Premier League"' as of the 2015/2016 season is the highest level of Nigerian football. It is fed into by the Nigeria National League (NNL). It is organized by the League Management Company.
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On May 2013, Nigerian telecommunications company Globacom signed a three-year contract with the league to become its title sponsor. Thus the league was officially known as the Glo Premier League at that time. 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. On the 27th of 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.
2016/2017 season
The 2016/2017 season is the 46th season of top flight football in Nigeria and the 27th season since the league turned professional with last season's champions Enugu Rangers, Rivers United, Wikki Tourists and Federation Cup winners FC Ifeanyi Ubah representing the league at the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup. On February 24, 2017, during a match day 10 fixture between MFM FC and reigning champions Enugu Rangers, at the Agege Stadium, Lagos fans as well as neutrals were treated to a "miraculous" goal as a loose ball from Rangers midfielder Chinedu Udeagha, was pounced on by MFM's left back Julius Emiloju who prodded the ball forward to diminutive midfield maestro Chukwuka Onuwa who found space, lobbed the ball to Stephen Odey who then flicked the ball to Sikiru Olatunbosun who with the presence of mind, flicked it above onrushing defender Etim Matthew and with a 180-degree turn at the edge of the 20-yard box, he unleashed a left-foot drive past the Rangers goalie, sending fans at the "Temple of Soccer" wild. The goal has since gone viral on social media and won the CNN 'Goal of the week' in the process with 82% votes of the 6,647 votes cast, beating off competition from AS Roma's Radja Nainggolan 11%, Youri Tielemans of Anderlecht 6% and Joey Jones of Woking FC 1%.
The League Management Company
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”.
List of Champions
Source: RSSSF