According to the most recent five-year evaluation published by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), Rivers United and Enyimba, two of Nigeria’s most well-known club teams, have earned spots in the top 500 teams worldwide.
With 361.75 points, Rivers United is placed 278th in the world in the IFFHS Men’s Club World Ranking, which runs from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2025. Enyimba is rated 421st with 280 points. Interestingly, they are the only representatives from Nigeria on the top 500 list.
The rating provides a more comprehensive picture of consistency and influence than a single exceptional season by evaluating performances in domestic leagues, continental competitions, and international tournaments across a five-year period.
The participation of Rivers United is indicative of a consistent uptick on the continent and at home. The Port Harcourt team finished in third place in 2022–2023 after winning the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) championship in the 2021–2022 season.
On the continental front, they advanced to the CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals in 2022–2023 and 2023–2024. They have since earned a spot in the 2025–2026 CAF Champions League group stage.
During the evaluation phase, Enyimba, who has long been considered one of Nigeria’s most illustrious clubs, further bolstered their case. During the five years in question, the nine-time domestic winners finished in third place twice and won another league championship in 2023. They have continued to participate in CAF events, including a group stage appearance in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2024–2025.
The Aba-based team is struggling in the league this season and is only one point above the relegation zone, despite their widespread recognition.
In contrast, Rivers United has emerged as Nigeria’s most reliable continental performer in recent seasons and presently leads the NPFL table with two games remaining. Enyimba is ranked 35th while Rivers United is placed 24th in CAF’s five-year club coefficient. They are the only Nigerian teams on that list, once more.
Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid leads the world rankings, followed by Manchester City and Brazilian powerhouse CR Flamengo. Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain round out the top five.
At a time when the NPFL has fallen in the IFFHS league standings, Rivers United and Enyimba have received notice. With 171.75 points, Nigeria’s premier flight fell 15 spots to 91st in the world in the 2025 evaluation.
The league rankings, which also take into account continental and international outcomes, draw attention to the most significant difficulties that Nigerian club football faces. However, the fact that two NPFL teams are in the top 500 worldwide indicates that despite structural obstacles, individual advancement is still achievable.
The IFFHS, which was established in 1984 and has its headquarters in Zurich, uses a points-based system to determine its rankings by analyzing clubs’ performance over a predetermined time period in domestic, continental, and international events.
