TOP 6 FOOTBALL CLUBS IN NIGERIA: 2013 Ranking By Fans Online

Woo! Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has finally kicked off on Saturday February 9, 2013. After two or three postponement due to so many rancor and lack of fund, nobody was sure when the league will start again.

Cheer on Nigeria publishers went online to get fans attention by asking them to rank Nigerian football clubs based on their recent performances. And the result we got from the polls was interesting.

It wasn't only fans though, coaches, players and journalists across the country were among the 500 people that voted. And they used different criteria to rank the teams. I'll share with you here the top six clubs that got most of the votes.

Enyimba FC of Aba (1976): Surprisingly, Enyimba came tops with 108/500 votes.

Well, I felt it was a surprise because the 'Aba Warriors' finished the last two seasons without a trophy. Enyimba finished 4th on the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) table and only got to the semi finals of the Federation (FA) cup last season.

Perhaps, past performance of the club who play home games at the 18000 capacity Enyimba International Stadium may have been the reason they got the people's vote.

Enyimba is considered the most successful football club in Nigeria, being the only team that has won CAF champions League and African Super Cup for Nigeria, back to back in 2003 and 2004 editions.

Let us view the major achievements of the club:

Won Caf Champions league 2 times - 2003, 2004.

Won African Super Cup 2 times - 2003, 2004.

Won NPL 6 times - 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2010.

Won Nigeria FA cup 2 times - 2005, 2009.

Kano Pillars FC of Kano (1990): The kadiri Ikhana tutored Kano Pillars was ranked 2nd with 86/500 votes.

The club's performance has been on a steady rise since 2008. The 'Madu Gid' won NPL last season 2012 and did so well at the recently concluded Super Four.

Kano Pillars play home games at the 18000 capacity Sani Abacha stadium. The team is participating again in Caf champions league after their first experience last season 2012.

Let us view the club's major achievements:

Won NPL 2times - 2008, 2012.

Heartland FC of Owerri (1976): The Dutchman, Lodewijk Krulf managed Heartland, was ranked 3rd with 81/500 votes.

Though, the 'Naze millionaires' finished 8th on NPL table, but the team is gradually becoming masters of FA cup. They won the tournament back to back in the last 2011 and 2012 editions.

Heartland who play home games at the 16000 capacity Dan Anyiam stadium, also won the recently concluded Super Four.

Let us view the Club's major achievements:

Won NPL 5 times - 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993.

Won Nigeria FA Cup 3 times - 1988, 2011, 2012.

Won Super Cup -2013.

Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi (1981): The John Zaki and Garba Lawal tutored Lobi Stars was ranked 4th with 56/500 votes.

The 'Suswan boys' who play a free flowing style of football are so exciting to watch at home ground, Aper Aku stadium.

Lobi finished 3rd on NPL table and was the runner up of FA cup last season. The team will be participating in the 2013 Caf cup.

Let us view the club's major achievements:

Won NPL - 1999.

Won Nigeria FA Cup - 2003

Won Super Cup - 1999.

Rangers International FC of Enugu (1970): The Felix Okey Emordi tutored Enugu Rangers was ranked 5th with 48/500 votes.

'The Flying Antelopes' last season performance was phenomenal. Most of the season, Enugu Rangers was placed first on the league table, but ended up 2nd due to some boardroom points awarded to Kano Pillars.

Enugu Rangers has a very rich football heritage with such an intimidating support at their massive home ground, a 30,000 capacity Nnamdi Azikwe stadium.

Let us view the Club's major achievements:

Won NPL 6 times - 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1984.

Won Nigeria FA cup 5 times - 1974, 1976, 1981, 1983.

Sunshine Stars of Akure (1998): The Solomon Ogbeide coached Sunshine Stars was closely ranked 6th with 47/500 votes.

'The Agagu' as the team is fondly called by fans, are pulling so much weight recently. Sunshine Stars got up to the semi finals of Caf Champions League and finished 5th on the NPL table last season. You cannot help but to admire the Mike Idoko managed team at the 14000 capacity Akure Township stadium, with their tip-tap brand of football.

Let us view the club's major achievements: