Top Five: Nigerian clubs of the decade

LIST
Goal profiles the best performing clubs in West Africa’s biggest football nation over the last 10 years

#5 Akwa United
At the start of the decade, the Promise Keepers were newbies in the Nigerian top flight and, as such, didn’t have things all their way, getting relegated after two seasons.

Since returning in 2011, the Uyo-based outfit have been on a steady rise, and are now NPFL title contenders having finished fourth and second in 2017 and 2018 respectively, as well as finishing top of Group A in the 2019 abridged Nigeria Professional Football League format.

There were also the Federation Cup success in 2015 and 2017, which gave them berths in the Caf Confederation Cup.

#4 Enugu Rangers
The Flying Antelopes were the dominant force in Nigeria football in the 1970s and 1980s with 13 titles to their name, including the 1977 Africa Cup Winners Cup (now Caf Confederation Cup).

They had gone on a barren trophy spell since 1984, and it looked like it would continue until the 32-year jinx was broken in 2016 thanks to the mastermind of Imama Amapakabo and a crop of talented players like Chisom Egbuchulam, Osas Okoro, Christian Madu and Obinna Nwobodo.

Rangers then added another cup success in 2018 in an electrifying final against Kano Pillars in Asaba which needed to be decided on penalties with the game levelled 3-3 at full-time.

#3 Kano Pillars
Sai Masu Gida are, without doubt, one of the star sides over the past decade, having won four league titles between 2008 and 2014, as well as a cup triumph, for the first time in 28 years, in 2019.

They have also featured in the Caf Champions League six times, more than any other Nigerian club since their debut in 2009, going all the way to the semi-finals at the first time of asking.

All of these elements have made the Groundnut Pyramid City outfit one of the most feared teams in the NPFL, with their home ground, the Sanni Abacha Stadium, regarded as one of the most demanding stadia to play in the country.

#2 MFM FC
A decade ago, the Olukoya Boys were still competing in the lower tiers of Nigerian football.

Little did many know that their time to shine was coming soon, and they made their top flight debut in 2016, not just avoiding relegation but demonstrating a scintillating and unexpected brand of football under Fidelis Ilechukwu.

In the following year, the Agege Stadium outfit finished a close second, four points behind eventual champions Plateau United, and went on to play in the Champions League and Confederation Cup.

Their rise has been the stuff of dreams, and MFM’s reputation as the highest-ranked Lagos-based team in the country keeps increasing.

#1 Enyimba
Who better than the People’s Elephant to top our list!?

Their 12 titles in the first five years (inclusive of the historic back-to-back Champions League titles of 2003 and 2004) of the millennium have been supplemented by a further eight in the last decade, which includes three league (most recently 2019) and cup triumphs.

The Aba giants have shown why they set the standard for Nigerian clubs, and it will be a massive feat for any another side to match or surpass all they’ve accomplished.

https://www.goal.com/en-ng/lists/top-five-nigerian-clubs-of-the-decade/s3ryx8yyzmkb15tg0kav6658o#1kqhvhdlmql5a11a81ubgdyedz

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1. Enyimba FC

Hello guys is this truly the top 5?



I sincerely thinks.


Rivers united and Lobi stars deserves a mentioned


What's your take?

Who dem epp with their gbas gbos styl of football

The ranking may be right.

But I’m not interested in the ranking of shitty clubs who could not play in the final of any tournament outside the country for a whole decade.

NPFL had better find a way of proper organization of the league so that our clubs can compete well in the continental competitions

Nigerian football is a joke, like Nigerian politics.

A country where no club has won any continental title for over 16 years since 2004.

nice list...thats the top 5 clubs for now but the order of rankings can be argued even if I go with urs..
naija football is dwindling as time goes by and that's why loyal fans like us have lost passion to follow it.

When will the NPFL be included in FIFA and PES abeg?

paulolee:
nice list...thats the top 5 clubs for now but the order of preferences can be argued even if I go with urs..

OK what is the ranking by you or order

Football clubs that score an average of 1 goal in most matches, are those football clubs?!.

I own one of them

Instead of you to arrange the clubs from most popular to least, you started with Akwa United, who know that one.

1. Rangers of Enugu
2. Enyimba of Aba
3. Kano pillars of Kano

And others.

What abt Nasarawa united?

Mfm before kano pillars

#RESPECT to all the teams.

#2 MFM FC
A decade ago, the Olukoya Boys were still competing in the lower tiers of Nigerian football.

Little did many know that their time to shine was coming soon, and they made their top flight debut in 2016, not just avoiding relegation but demonstrating a scintillating and unexpected brand of football under Fidelis Ilechukwu.

In the following year, the Agege Stadium outfit finished a close second, four points behind eventual champions Plateau United, and went on to play in the Champions League and Confederation Cup.

Their rise has been the stuff of dreams, and MFM’s reputation as the highest-ranked Lagos-based team in the country keeps increasing.

They were a joy to watch few years ago.
Robosky, how are they faring now?
Is this sport analyst ( Godwin Enaghana!!!) Still their Team Manager?
Been a while......

Where is Shooting star

OP, are you OK?


What is MFM doing on that list?

Ifeanyi Uba FC, Heartland should be on the list before them.

Enyimba is the Liverpool FC of Nigeria

Vipperr:
When you people insult and castigate my tribe I don't complain or even report cos I know that the moderators would
never do anything about that.

Why is nairaland making it normal to stereotype and castigate the whole of Northern Nigeria but will never tolerate that against the East??

Dear seun, let's assume you have strong hatred for the north.

Don't you know we have thousands of Christians and Atheist here in the north?

We have thousands of Northerners here on Nairaland who are mostly silent readers.

They don't complain or insult back doesn't mean that they are not here.

This igbo mod has been following me deleting my comments that criticize the east.

I sometimes complain but nothing is being done about that.

Now he decided to ban and silent me for absolutely no reason.

Seun nairaland is supposed to carry ever tribe, region, religion along.

Not only the the north... Other regions and tribes get attacked too.

So on Nairaland only the Igbos have the monopoly of bigotry and tribalism.

I can never be silenced!! I will never stop standing tall for my region.

My only crime is defending the north against stereotypes from people who their only aim is to paint her black, castigate and stereotype her as their region is doing any better.

Seun I need to be unban and publicly be apologized to!!

Cos I am not going to take this ban lightly...!!

We have more than a thousand of Ipob users spreading hate and insulting people with full impunity here on Nairaland.

But the only threat to the Igbo mod is Arrewa.

This is the greatest hight of injustice and hypocrisy!

The only me standing tall for my region is who they want to bring down.

Dear seun, Posterity will have it that Nairaland is Anti Northern Nigeria.

Imagine banning me for defending my Heritage, my region and my people from the Igbos who their only aim is castigate and insult us even for no reason.

Dear seun, The worst investment ever is investing in hate.

It is a total waste of time, energy and resources. It makes the person you hate stronger and eventually destroys you.

This was my comment before I got banned!....

You guys should stop already with all your tribalism on Nairaland. Better still, restrict it to politics and crime section

Who get time dey watch Nigerian football league sef..

.

matrix199:
Football clubs that score an average of 1 goal in most matches.

Nigerian football league should be scrapped..

Vipperr:
When you people insult and castigate my tribe I don't complain or even report cos I know that the moderators would
never do anything about that.

Why is nairaland making it normal to stereotype and castigate the whole of Northern Nigeria but will never tolerate that against the East??

Dear seun, let's assume you have strong hatred for the north.

Don't you know we have thousands of Christians and Atheist here in the north?

We have thousands of Northerners here on Nairaland who are mostly silent readers.

They don't complain or insult back doesn't mean that they are not here.

This igbo mod has been following me deleting my comments that criticize the east.

I sometimes complain but nothing is being done about that.

Now he decided to ban and silent me for absolutely no reason.

Seun nairaland is supposed to carry ever tribe, region, religion along.

Not only the the north... Other regions and tribes get attacked too.

So on Nairaland only the Igbos have the monopoly of bigotry and tribalism.

I can never be silenced!! I will never stop standing tall for my region.

My only crime is defending the north against stereotypes from people who their only aim is to paint her black, castigate and stereotype her as their region is doing any better.

Seun I need to be unban and publicly be apologized to!!

Cos I am not going to take this ban lightly...!!

We have more than a thousand of Ipob users spreading hate and insulting people with full impunity here on Nairaland.

But the only threat to the Igbo mod is Arrewa.

This is the greatest hight of injustice and hypocrisy!

The only me standing tall for my region is who they want to bring down.

Dear seun, Posterity will have it that Nairaland is Anti Northern Nigeria.

Imagine banning me for defending my Heritage, my region and my people from the Igbos who their only aim is castigate and insult us even for no reason.

Dear seun, The worst investment ever is investing in hate.

It is a total waste of time, energy and resources. It makes the person you hate stronger and eventually destroys you.

This was my comment before I got banned.

Arewa crying like a baby on every thread. Are you the first person they ban on Nairaland, does your life revolves around nairaland. Take a chill pill.

You deserve the ban because your own on Nairaland is to abuse other tribes especially the Igbos on daily basis causing ethnic tensions and bigotry.

God bless Dr Olukoya

MFM FC the only private club in the list

not an MFM member but I swear he is very committed to youth and sports.
Do you know he also organized an athletics competition?


cc mynd44 Ishilove femi4

Vipperr:
When you people insult and castigate my tribe I don't complain or even report cos I know that the moderators would
never do anything about that.

Why is nairaland making it normal to stereotype and castigate the whole of Northern Nigeria but will never tolerate that against the East??

Dear seun, let's assume you have strong hatred for the north.

Don't you know we have thousands of Christians and Atheist here in the north?

We have thousands of Northerners here on Nairaland who are mostly silent readers.

They don't complain or insult back doesn't mean that they are not here.

This igbo mod has been following me deleting my comments that criticize the east.

I sometimes complain but nothing is being done about that.

Now he decided to ban and silent me for absolutely no reason.

Seun nairaland is supposed to carry ever tribe, region, religion along.

Not only the the north... Other regions and tribes get attacked too.

So on Nairaland only the Igbos have the monopoly of bigotry and tribalism.

I can never be silenced!! I will never stop standing tall for my region.

My only crime is defending the north against stereotypes from people who their only aim is to paint her black, castigate and stereotype her as their region is doing any better.

Seun I need to be unban and publicly be apologized to!!

Cos I am not going to take this ban lightly...!!

We have more than a thousand of Ipob users spreading hate and insulting people with full impunity here on Nairaland.

But the only threat to the Igbo mod is Arrewa.

This is the greatest hight of injustice and hypocrisy!

The only me standing tall for my region is who they want to bring down.

Dear seun, Posterity will have it that Nairaland is Anti Northern Nigeria.

Imagine banning me for defending my Heritage, my region and my people from the Igbos who their only aim is castigate and insult us even for no reason.

Dear seun, The worst investment ever is investing in hate.

It is a total waste of time, energy and resources. It makes the person you hate stronger and eventually destroys you.

This was my comment before I got banned!....

So your purpose of coming to Nairaland is to fight and intensify tribalism, bigotry and cause civil war in Nigeria.

Continue behaving like children.