European Leagues Dominate As NPFL Drops To 91st In Global Rankings

European Leagues Dominate As NPFL Drops To 91st In Global Rankings 

By BSN Sports 

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has dropped to 91st position in the latest global league rankings released by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), sliding 15 places from its 76th-place finish in 2024, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

According to the 2025 rankings, the NPFL accumulated 171.75 points, placing it outside the world’s top 90 domestic leagues. The decline reflects a downturn in the league’s comparative strength amid intensifying competition from other football markets worldwide.

The IFFHS ranking system evaluates leagues based on club performances in continental and international competitions, applying weighted metrics that extend beyond regional tournaments. Analysts attribute the NPFL’s drop largely to inconsistent outings by Nigerian clubs in continental championships, coupled with the rising competitiveness of other African leagues.

African Leagues Consolidate Dominance

Within Africa, Egypt’s top division retained its status as the continent’s strongest league for the sixth consecutive year. Morocco’s Botola continued its consistent presence among Africa’s elite, maintaining a podium finish since 2018. South Africa’s Premiership returned to the top three for the first time in 21 years, while Algeria and Tunisia completed the continent’s top five leagues.

Under the Confederation of African Football (CAF) five-year ranking system, Nigeria currently occupies 12th place with 21 points. This position allows the country to maintain two slots in each CAF interclub competition.

European Leagues Lead Globally

Globally, European competitions continued to dominate the IFFHS rankings, accounting for 12 of the top 20 leagues and 29 of the top 50. South America placed five leagues in the top 20, while Asia had two representatives. The CONCACAF and Oceania regions contributed one league each to the upper tier.

The English Premier League retained its position as the world’s highest-ranked league for the sixth time since the rankings were introduced in 1991. Spain’s La Liga followed in second place, with Brazil’s Campeonato Brasileiro Série A ranked third.

Italy’s Serie A slipped three places but remained ahead of Germany’s Bundesliga. France’s Ligue 1 climbed to sixth position, while Portugal’s Primeira Liga held seventh. Argentina’s Liga Profesional de Fútbol dropped two places but stayed ahead of the Netherlands’ Eredivisie, as Colombia’s Categoría Primera A rounded out the global top ten.

Calls for Structural Reforms

Observers argue that the NPFL’s decline underscores persistent concerns about competitiveness, infrastructure, and international visibility. Performance gaps in continental tournaments, limited investment in facilities, and player development challenges are frequently cited as factors undermining progress.

Football analyst Tunde Adeyemi noted that while the league possesses significant potential, structural reforms and strategic planning are essential to reverse the downward trend.

“The NPFL has the capacity to compete at a higher level,” Adeyemi said. “However, the rankings reflect structural challenges and the urgent need for coordinated efforts to improve club performances and overall league quality.”

With Egyptian, Moroccan, and South African leagues strengthening their continental influence, pressure is mounting on Nigerian football authorities to implement reforms capable of restoring the NPFL’s standing both in Africa and on the global stage.