NPFL: New depths and implications for the Super Eagles

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has once again been confronted by uncomfortable numbers, after the was ranked 12th in Africa and 91st globally in the latest assessment released by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics.

The IFFHS ranking, published on Friday, places the NPFL outside the continent’s top ten, in a list dominated largely by North African leagues. Egypt remain Africa’s highest-ranked league, with Morocco, South Africa, Algeria and Tunisia also ahead, while Tanzania, DR Congo, Mali, Angola and Ivory Coast complete the African top ten.

Nigeria’s absence from that bracket reflects years of decline in continental influence and competitiveness.

Beyond the table, the figures echo deeper concerns. Nigerian clubs have not lifted a major CAF trophy in nearly two decades, and representation in continental competitions has steadily thinned. The ranking now raises broader questions about development pathways, visibility and confidence in the local game, concerns that spilled into the national conversation during AFCON 2025.

Eguavoen: AFCON 2025 squad exposed the NPFL problem

Nigeria Football Federation Technical Director Austin Eguavoen admitted he was unsettled by the complete absence of NPFL players in the Super Eagles squad for AFCON 2025, a decision he believes mirrors the league’s diminishing standing.

“I felt disappointed that we did not include some NPFL players in the AFCON squad,” Eguavoen told Footy Africa. “Some players may not even get a minute of action, so why couldn’t we include a few players from the local league? At least three or four would have been better.”

Eguavoen rejected the notion that recent setbacks, including Nigeria’s struggles at CHAN, justify shutting the door on home-based talent. “The players are not bad. Just because we didn’t do well at CHAN doesn’t mean we should throw the baby out with the bathwater. When players come straight from the local league into AFCON, it sends a strong message.”

While stressing that squad selection rests with the Super Eagles coach, Eguavoen pointed to structural gaps that go beyond rankings. “We can only advise the coach. He respects the players and wants to bring them through gradually. But it’s important he spends more time in Nigeria. If he’s around, he can watch games and see these players himself. That’s how the gap can begin to close.”