What Rivers United’s CAF ranking says about the future of Nigerian club football

One-time NPFL Champions Rivers United have emerged as the only NPFL club listed in CAF’s top 30 club rankings, Afrik-Foot reports.

CAF’s latest rankings place Rivers United 24th on the continent with 15 ranking points, ahead of every other Nigerian side. Former African champions Enyimba sit all the way down in 45th with just four points.

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CAF's updated Club Ranking ahead of the 2026/27 CAF inter club competitions:

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The contrast becomes even more striking when compared to Africa’s elite team. South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns top the rankings with 73 points, followed by Egypt’s Al Ahly (66), Tunisia’s Esperance (58) and Morocco’s RS Berkane (57). Even clubs like USM Alger, Zamalek and Pyramids accumulated more than three times Rivers United’s tally.

Rivers United are Nigeria’s continental benchmark

For several years, Enyimba were regarded as Nigeria’s flag bearers in Africa, having won the CAF Champions League twice and regularly represented the country on the continent.

However, it appears Rivers United have overtaken them by a considerable margin, reaching the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup (2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons) and reaching the Group Stage of the CAF Champions League (2025/26 season).

Their recent appearances in CAF inter-club competitions have helped them accumulate enough ranking points to become Nigeria’s leading representative, underlining the consistency they have shown compared to their domestic rivals.

Yet their position also highlights a difficult reality. Being Nigeria’s best-ranked club has not been enough to place them among Africa’s top clubs.

NPFL is falling behind in Africa

The biggest concern is not Rivers United’s position itself, but what it reveals about the overall health of Nigerian club football.

South Africa have four clubs inside CAF’s top 40, including leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch.

Egypt boast Al Ahly, Zamalek, Pyramids and Al Masry among the continent’s strongest sides, while Morocco continue to produce regular continental contenders through Berkane, FAR Rabat, Wydad Casablanca and Raja Casablanca.

Nigeria, by comparison, have only Rivers United inside the top 30 and just two clubs inside the top 50. That decline reflects inconsistent performances in CAF competitions over the past decade, and the overall dip in the quality of football in the NPFL.

Enyimba’s decline tells its own story

Few examples illustrate Nigeria’s regression better than Enyimba. Once regarded as the pride of Nigerian football, the Aba-based club now sit 45th on the continent with only four ranking points.

For a club that once dominated African football under Kadiri Ikhana and Okey Emordi, their current standing is a steep decline and also raises broader questions about investment, infrastructure and long-term planning within Nigerian club football.

Why CAF rankings are important

CAF’s coefficient rankings are not merely statistical exercises. Strong rankings improve seeding in continental competitions, potentially offering clubs more favourable draws in the early rounds.

Higher-ranked clubs also build stronger reputations across the continent, making it easier to attract sponsors, better players and larger commercial opportunities.

For Nigerian football, having only one competitive representative significantly reduces the country’s influence within CAF competitions, and makes it harder to qualify as competition slots are reduced.

Rivers United deserve recognition for becoming Nigeria’s highest-ranked club. However, their position should also serve as a warning.

While the Pride of Rivers have shown encouraging consistency, the broader picture suggests Nigeria are losing ground to rivals from South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and even Tanzania.