The Nigeria Professional Football League has moved from 77th position to 57th position as the best league in the 2019 rankings for national leagues across the world and ranked 8th in Africa.
The ranking is a yearly event where the body will critically inspect, analyse and recommend their views on each league across the world.
NPFL is ranked eighth in Africa behind Tunisia (15), Morocco (17), Egypt (30), Congo DR (35), Angola (48), South Africa (50), Zambia (55).
In the year under review, Nigeria’s only representatives, Enugu Rangers, failed to make it beyond the group stage of the 2018/19 the Confederations Cup.
Lobi Stars also crashed out in the group stage of the season’s Champions League.
Top of the list are the English Premier League, who are ahead of the Brazilian league, La Liga, Serie A and the Colombian league, who make up the top five leagues.
Meanwhile Chairman of the League Management Committee, Shehu Dikko, is elated by the progress of the NPFL.
“It shows we are moving forward, jumping 20 places in one year, it was a challenging year. If we continue on this trajectory, we will get where we want to be – to be among the top,” Dikko told The PUNCH.
“It just indicates that people are watching and we will review what is going on and make improvements. At least, to jump 20 places in one year is quite a leap, so, we are glad we are making some progress despite the challenges, but we can do more. Our ambition is to be at the top.
The league which started in November 2019 is expected to end by June 2020 all things being equal to meet up with the best practices across the world.
Good one. Kudos.
Thank you sir. Hon. Jubril Arowolo is a veteran in journalism, a politician per excellence and a philanthropist.