The Nigeria premier football league was formerly known as the Amaschree Gold Cup from 1970 to 1979 and the National League/Nigeria Football League.
The past winners are listed below.
Rangers International Football Club, commonly known as Enugu Rangers, is a Nigerian premier football league club founded in 1970 with its home ground as the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu (The Cathedral).
Rangers International or Enugu Rangers have won Nigeria’s premier title nine times, starting in 1971, 1974,1975, 1977,1981,1982,1984,2016 and just concluded one 2023/24 season.
Some of the legends behind them were Augustine Azusa, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, Emmanuel Okala and Adokiye Amiesimaka etc.
Enyinba, the club, was founded as a state-owned club in November 1976 by Jerry Amadi Enyeazu, who was the first Director of Sports in the newly established Imo State, a province in southeast Nigeria.
The Enyimba International of Aba were millennium winners who also won the title nine times, with three back-to-back times, starting in 2001,2002,2003,2005,2007,2010,2015,2019 and 2023.
Some of their legends are Ogbonnaye Okemmiri, Kalu Uche.
Ibrahim Mustapha,Vincent Enyeama,Obinna Nwaneri,
Mouritala Ogunbiyi,Uche Kalu.
Onyekachi Okonkwo.
The shooting stars the club found in 1950 were called WNDC Ibadan (Western Nigeria Development Company), and were later called IICC (Industrial Investment and Credit Corporation) Shooting Stars of Ibadan.
IICC Shooting Stars (Ibadan) have secured the title five times, in 1976,1980,1983,1995 and 1998 as shooting started in Ibadan.
Some of the legends are the late Jide Johnson, Niyi Omowon, Segun Odegbami, Felix Owolabi, Niyi Akande, Taiwo Ogunjobi, the late Rashidi Yekini, Mutiu Adepoju and Oladimeji Lawal the current Tm of the club
Spartans F.C., later known as Iwuanyanwu Nationale from 1985 to 2006. The death of Chief Iwuanyanwu on 25 July 2024 made a team now known as Heartland FC founded in 1976.
Iwuanyanwu Nationale (Owerri), now called Heartland FC, was the first Nigerian league to win the title four times, back to back, in 1987,1988, and 1989.
And in 1990, we also won the title in 1993 to making 5title.
Some of their lengths are. Late Godwin Eke , Semitoje Isaac ,Nwaigwe Tony ,Otho Bathel Thomas Oliha, Finidi George, Benedict Iroha, and Uche Okechukwu. etc
Kano Pillars FC was founded in 1990, the year the professional association football league started in Nigeria.
Kano Pillar followed suit by winning the title three times, back to back, in 2012,2013 and 2014, with 2008 winning four titles.
Some of their lengths are
A. Shehu Abdullahi · Razaq Adegbite · Theophilus Afelokhai · Prince Obus Aggreh · Rabiu Ali .Ahmed Musa etc
Bendel Insurance Football Club’s initial name was Vipers of Benin. It was founded in 1972 now as the state team Philip Shaibu, Deputy Governor, Edo State, as chair of the club.
Bendel Insurance (Benin City) contributed to the league’s success by winning it two times: 1973 and 1979.
Some of their lengths are
A. Abubakar Bello-Osagie · Olubayo Adefemi · Prince Obus Aggreh · Julius Aghahowa · Festus Agu · Joseph Akpala · Kola Anubi ; B · Daddy Bazuaye ; C · Justice ..
Here are the other winners of Nigeria’s professional football leagues. I know some people will still remember BC Lions of Gboko, New Nigeria Bank, who nurture Stephen Keshia etc. Stationery stores, Adebajo boys, only Peter Rufai. It only views people who remember Edward Ansah of Leventis of Ibadan and Julius Berger, who produced players like Yakubu Ayegbini, Garba Lawal and Joseph Dosu, etc.
1972 Mighty Jets (Jos)
1978 Racca Rovers (Kano)
1985 New Nigeria Bank (Benin City)
1986 Leventis United (Ibadan)
1991 Julius Berger (Lagos)
1992 Stationery Stores (Lagos)
1994 BCC Lions (Gboko)
1996 Udoji United FC (Awka)
1997 Eagle Cement (Port Harcourt)
1999 Lobi Stars FC (Makurdi)
2000 Julius Berger (Lagos)
2004 Dolphin (Port Harcourt)
2006 Ocean Boys FC (Brass)
2009 Bayelsa United FC (Yenagoa)
2011 Dolphin (Port Harcourt)
2017 Plateau United FC (Jos)
2018 abandoned
2019/20 abandoned
2020/21 Akwa United (Uyo)
2021/22 Rivers United (Port Harcourt)
Who will be in this year’s Edition ?