A Ranking that Reflects a Growing Crisis
The latest CAF club rankings have delivered another harsh verdict on Nigerian football, with only Rivers United making the top 75 teams on the continent.
CAF’s updated list places Al Ahly of Egypt at No. 1, followed by Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa. This continues a pattern where the continent’s heavyweight clubs dominate, while Nigerian sides slide further down the ladder.
Rivers United rank 24th, boosted by recent years of relatively stable continental performances. Meanwhile, Enyimba — once a two-time African champion — sits further down at 35th, marking a steep decline for the legendary Aba club.
🟨 Why Nigeria’s Absence Is a Red Flag
The rankings cover a five-year performance cycle, with recent results weighted more heavily. Because Nigerian teams have struggled to reach late stages of CAF tournaments, their continental points have dropped significantly.
More importantly, no Nigerian club except Rivers United reached the CAF Champions League group stage in the past eight years. This gap has widened the performance gulf between the NPFL and leagues in Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria and South Africa.
The top 10 is heavily stacked with clubs showing consistent success:
- Espérance (Tunisia)
- RS Berkane (Morocco)
- Simba SC (Tanzania)
- Zamalek (Egypt)
- Pyramids (Egypt)
- Wydad AC (Morocco)
- USM Alger (Algeria)
- CR Belouizdad (Algeria)
These teams not only reach group stages regularly but often progress into quarterfinals and semifinals, collecting points that strengthen their rankings.
🟨 Nigeria’s Underperformance in Perspective
The drop is not simply about match results. It reflects deeper structural issues:
- Administrative instability
- Poor funding
- Late preparations
- Stadium inconsistencies
- Squad turnover
- Lack of long-term technical continuity
While Rivers United have been relatively stable, other NPFL clubs frequently struggle with travel logistics, player welfare challenges and tactical inconsistency. Because CAF’s system rewards continuity and progression, Nigerian teams suffer in the rankings when they exit early.
The situation has become so alarming that Nigeria — Africa’s most populous football nation — now lags behind countries with smaller leagues but stronger club infrastructures.
🟨 Impact on Future CAF Campaigns
The lower rankings have real consequences. They affect club seedings, which in turn determine how difficult early matchups become in CAF tournaments.
For Nigerian clubs, this means potentially facing top-tier opponents in early rounds — increasing the likelihood of early exits. This cycle makes rebuilding ranking points even harder.
Rivers United’s recent loss to Pyramids FC, coming shortly after the ranking release, only deepens concerns about Nigeria’s readiness for elite competition.
🟨 A Call for Urgent Reform
This ranking has sparked new conversations among stakeholders about rebuilding Nigeria’s club football ecosystem. Many analysts argue that:
- Consistent investment in club structures,
- Stable coaching regimes,
- Better youth development, and
- Stronger league governance
are essential if the NPFL wants to reclaim its lost status.
For now, however, the story remains the same: Nigeria’s continental influence is shrinking, and only one club is keeping the country on the map.
