The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has slipped to 91st place in the latest global league rankings released by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), falling 15 spots from its 76th-place finish in 2024, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The 2025 rankings awarded the NPFL 171.75 points, leaving it outside the world’s top 90 domestic competitions and highlighting a decline in the league’s comparative strength amid increasing global competition.
The IFFHS evaluates leagues based on club performances in continental and international competitions, using weighted metrics that extend beyond regional tournaments. Analysts suggest that inconsistent showings by Nigerian clubs in continental championships, combined with the rising standards of other African leagues, have largely contributed to the NPFL’s slide.
African Leagues Consolidate Dominance
Egypt’s top division retained its position as the continent’s strongest league for the sixth consecutive year, while Morocco’s Botola maintained a consistent podium presence since 2018. South Africa’s Premiership re-entered the top three for the first time in 21 years, with Algeria and Tunisia completing Africa’s top five leagues.
Under the Confederation of African Football (CAF) five-year ranking system, Nigeria currently sits 12th with 21 points, securing two spots in each CAF interclub competition.
European Leagues Lead Globally
European leagues continue to dominate the IFFHS global rankings, claiming 12 of the top 20 and 29 of the top 50 positions. South America contributed five leagues to the top 20, Asia had two, while CONCACAF and Oceania each had one representative.
The English Premier League remains the world’s highest-ranked league for the sixth time since the ranking system began in 1991, followed by Spain’s La Liga and Brazil’s Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. Italy’s Serie A slipped three places but stayed ahead of Germany’s Bundesliga, while France’s Ligue 1 climbed to sixth. Portugal’s Primeira Liga retained seventh, Argentina’s Liga Profesional de Fútbol dropped two places but stayed ahead of the Netherlands’ Eredivisie, and Colombia’s Categoría Primera A rounded out the global top ten.
Calls for Structural Reforms
Experts argue that the NPFL’s fall exposes ongoing concerns about competitiveness, infrastructure, and international visibility. Weak performances in continental competitions, limited investment in facilities, and gaps in player development are frequently cited as obstacles to progress.
Football analyst Tunde Adeyemi emphasized that while the league has significant potential, structural reforms and strategic planning are critical. “The NPFL has the capacity to compete at a higher level. However, the rankings reflect structural challenges and the urgent need for coordinated efforts to improve club performances and overall league quality,” he said.
With leagues in Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa strengthening their influence across the continent, pressure is mounting on Nigerian football authorities to implement reforms that could restore the NPFL’s standing both within Africa and globally.