How Come Rivers United Are The Only Nigerian Club In IFFHS' African Top 20 List?
In a development that has shocked and disappointed some fans of Nigerian football, the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) has picked only Rivers in their top 20 list of African clubs.
According to them, Rivers United are the best team in Nigeria, 17th best team in Africa and 201 best team in the world.
It has to be said that so very many local and international followers of the Nigeria Professional Football League are neither surprised nor disappointed. The writing, they said, was always on the wall.
Poor officiating, security issues, disgraceful pitches, wholly inadequate investment in infrastructure, marketing and player developments, non payment of players' wages, low wages and all round shambolic management of league football are just some of the factors currently debilitating the development of clubs in the NPFL.
On a good day, an illustrious football playing nation like Nigeria should have at least 3 clubs in Africa's top 20. But that is not the case.
After Nigeria's recent failure to qualify for the world cup in Qatar, the Sports ministry has promised to look into making the NPFL a more attractive proposition in the immediate future.
Sadly, one fan of Nigerian football said: "we have heard it all before. All talk but no action." FULL LIST OF TOP 20 CLUBS IN AFRICA Note: (CR – CAF Ranking, WR – World Ranking) 1. Al Ahly SC – Egypt (WR 19, 213 points) 2. Raja CA Casablanca – Morocco (WR 49, 170,5 points) 3. Algerian CR Belouizdad (WR 59, 159.5 points). 4. Wydad AC Casablanca – Morocco (WR 77, 144,5 points) 5. Pyramids FC – Egypt (WR 89, 135 points) 6. Atlético Petro de Luanda – Angola (WR 93, 133,5 points) 7. Zamalek SC – Egypt (WR 97, 132,5 points) 8. Mamelodi Sundowns FC – South Africa (WR 115, 125,5 points) 9. JS Kabylie – Algeria (WR 118, 124 points) 10. ES Sétif – Algeria (WR 128, 120 points) 11. Simba SC – Tanzania (WR 130, 117,5 points) 12. Berkane – Morocco (WR 151, 103 points) 13. Orlando Pirates FC – South Africa (WR 159, 99 points) 14. JS Saoura – Algeria (WR 168, 96 points) 15. TP Mazembe – Congo DR (WR 177, 95,5 points) 16. Al Masry – Egypt (WR 182, 94 points) 17. Rivers United FC – Nigeria (WR 201, 89,5 points) 18. Esperance ST – Tunisia (WR 206, 88 points) 19. Zanaco FC – Zambia (WR 212, 87,5 points) 20. GD Sagrada Esperança – Angola (WR 216, 86 points.
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