The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has clubs from all over the country. The league brings together teams representing Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Knowing which NPFL teams come from which states gives you a good idea of how the North and South stack up, and which states don’t have a team yet. We’ll also check out the newly promoted clubs joining the league for the 2025/26 season.
NPFL Teams and Their States
1. Abia Warriors FC
- State: Abia State (Umuahia)
- Head Coach: Imama Amapakabo
- Star Players: Anthony Ijoma, Sunday Megwo
- Players Abroad: Former captain Augustine Njoku (Algeria)
- National Team Call-ups: Fringe Super Eagles CHAN prospects
- NPFL Titles: 0
2. Akwa United FC
- State: Akwa Ibom State (Uyo)
- Head Coach: Fatai Osho
- Star Players: Uche Sabastine, Endurance Ebedebiri
- Players Abroad: Ndifreke Effiong (Iraq)
- National Team Call-ups: Regular CHAN Eagles selections
- NPFL Titles: 1 (2020/21)
3. Bayelsa United FC
- State: Bayelsa State (Yenagoa)
- Head Coach: Ladan Bosso
- Star Players: Kehinde Malik, Ebuka Obi
- Players Abroad: Godstime Joseph (Europe)
- National Team Call-ups: Youth national team representation
- NPFL Titles: 0
4. Bendel Insurance FC
- State: Edo State (Benin City)
- Head Coach: Monday Odigie
- Star Players: Divine Nwachukwu, Osarenkhoe Imade
- Players Abroad: Former striker Charles Atshimene (Europe)
- National Team Call-ups: CHAN Eagles
- NPFL Titles: 2 (1973, 1979)
5. El-Kanemi Warriors FC
- State: Borno State (Maiduguri)
- Head Coach: Aliyu Zubairu
- Star Players: Umar Abba, Samuel Mathias
- Players Abroad: Limited exports
- National Team Call-ups: Youth level involvement
- NPFL Titles: 0
6. Enyimba FC
- State: Abia State (Aba)
- Head Coach: Finidi George
- Star Players: Chukwuemeka Obioma, Ojo Olorunleke
- Players Abroad: Mfon Udoh (Asia), Anayo Iwuala (North Africa)
- National Team Call-ups: Multiple Super Eagles and CHAN Eagles
- NPFL Titles: 9 (Record holders)
7. Rangers International FC
- State: Enugu State (Enugu)
- Head Coach: Fidelis Ilechukwu
- Star Players: Chidiebere Nwobodo, Kazeem Ogunleye
- Players Abroad: Former players in Europe and North Africa
- National Team Call-ups: CHAN Eagles regulars
- NPFL Titles: 7
8. Heartland FC
- State: Imo State (Owerri)
- Head Coach: Christian Obi
- Star Players: Suraju Lawal
- Players Abroad: Kelechi Emeteole (historical export)
- National Team Call-ups: Youth call-ups
- NPFL Titles: 5 (as Iwuanyanwu Nationale)
9. Ikorodu City FC
- State: Lagos State (Ikorodu)
- Head Coach: Bright Ozebagbe
- Star Players: Tosin Oyedokun
- Players Abroad: Developing exports
- National Team Call-ups: None yet
- NPFL Titles: 0
10. Kano Pillars FC
- State: Kano State (Kano)
- Head Coach: Abdul Maikaba
- Star Players: Rabiu Ali
- Players Abroad: Junior Lokosa (North Africa)
- National Team Call-ups: Super Eagles B
- NPFL Titles: 4
11. Katsina United FC
- State: Katsina State (Katsina)
- Head Coach: Usman Abdallah
- Star Players: Rasheed Ahmed
- Players Abroad: Limited exports
- National Team Call-ups: Occasional CHAN involvement
- NPFL Titles: 0
12. Kwara United FC
- State: Kwara State (Ilorin)
- Head Coach: Kabiru Dogo
- Star Players: Wasiu Alalade
- Players Abroad: Stephen Jude (Tanzania)
- National Team Call-ups: CHAN Eagles
- NPFL Titles: 0
13. Lobi Stars FC
- State: Benue State (Makurdi)
- Head Coach: Eugene Agagbe
- Star Players: Ossy Martins
- Players Abroad: Kingsley Eduwo (North Africa)
- National Team Call-ups: Super Eagles B
- NPFL Titles: 1 (1999)
14. Nasarawa United FC
- State: Nasarawa State (Lafia)
- Head Coach: Bala Nikyu
- Star Players: Silas Nwankwo
- Players Abroad: Silas Nwankwo (Sweden)
- National Team Call-ups: CHAN Eagles
- NPFL Titles: 0
15. Niger Tornadoes FC
- State: Niger State (Minna)
- Head Coach: Majin Mohammed
- Star Players: Victor Okoro
- Players Abroad: Developing exports
- National Team Call-ups: Youth involvement
- NPFL Titles: 0
16. Plateau United FC
- State: Plateau State (Jos)
- Head Coach: Mbwas Mangut
- Star Players: Ibrahim Mustapha
- Players Abroad: Tosin Omoyele (Europe)
- National Team Call-ups: CHAN Eagles
- NPFL Titles: 1 (2016/17)
17. Remo Stars FC
- State: Ogun State (Ikenne)
- Head Coach: Daniel Ogunmodede
- Star Players: Sikiru Alimi
- Players Abroad: Junior Nduka (North Africa)
- National Team Call-ups: Super Eagles CHAN
- NPFL Titles: 0
18. Rivers United FC
- State: Rivers State (Port Harcourt)
- Head Coach: Stanley Eguma
- Star Players: Nyima Nwagua
- Players Abroad: Chijioke Akuneto (North Africa)
- National Team Call-ups: Super Eagles B
- NPFL Titles: 1 (2021/22)
19. Shooting Stars Sports Club
- State: Oyo State (Ibadan)
- Head Coach: Gbenga Ogunbote
- Star Players: Gbolagade Adelowo
- Players Abroad: Historical exports to Europe
- National Team Call-ups: CHAN Eagles
- NPFL Titles: 5
20. Sunshine Stars FC
- State: Ondo State (Akure/Ijebu-Ode)
- Head Coach: Edith Agoye
- Star Players: Dayo Ojo
- Players Abroad: Ajibola Otegbeye (Europe)
- National Team Call-ups: Youth and CHAN
- NPFL Titles: 0
Newly Promoted NPFL Clubs (2025/26)
21. Wikki Tourists FC
- State: Bauchi State (Bauchi)
- Head Coach: Aliyu Mohammed
- Star Players: Idris Guda
- NPFL Titles: 0
22. Barau FC
- State: Kano State (Dambatta)
- Head Coach: To be confirmed
- Star Players: Emerging squad
- NPFL Titles: 0
23. Warri Wolves FC
- State: Delta State (Warri)
- Head Coach: Napoleon Aluma
- Star Players: Okiemute Odah
- Players Abroad: Former exports to Europe
- NPFL Titles: 0
24. Kun Khalifat FC
- State: Ogun State
- Head Coach: To be confirmed
- Star Players: Newly assembled squad
- NPFL Titles: 0
North vs South representation in NPFL
NORTH (North West, North East, North Central)
North West
- Kano Pillars FC – Kano State (Kano)
- Katsina United FC – Katsina State (Katsina)
- Barau FC – Kano State (Dambatta)
North East
- El-Kanemi Warriors FC – Borno State (Maiduguri)
- Wikki Tourists FC – Bauchi State (Bauchi)
North Central
- Kwara United FC – Kwara State (Ilorin)
- Lobi Stars FC – Benue State (Makurdi)
- Nasarawa United FC – Nasarawa State (Lafia)
- Niger Tornadoes FC – Niger State (Minna)
- Plateau United FC – Plateau State (Jos)
Total Northern Clubs: 10
SOUTH (South West, South East, South South)
South West
- Ikorodu City FC – Lagos State (Ikorodu)
- Remo Stars FC – Ogun State (Ikenne)
- Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) – Oyo State (Ibadan)
- Sunshine Stars FC – Ondo State (Akure / Ijebu-Ode)
- Kun Khalifat FC – Ogun State
South East
- Abia Warriors FC – Abia State (Umuahia)
- Enyimba FC – Abia State (Aba)
- Enugu Rangers (Rangers International FC) – Enugu State (Enugu)
- Heartland FC – Imo State (Owerri)
South South
- Akwa United FC – Akwa Ibom State (Uyo)
- Bayelsa United FC – Bayelsa State (Yenagoa)
- Bendel Insurance FC – Edo State (Benin City)
- Rivers United FC – Rivers State (Port Harcourt)
- Warri Wolves FC – Delta State (Warri)
Total Southern Clubs: 14
Overall Representation: North: 10 clubs, South: 14 clubs
States without NPFL clubs
NORTH
North West
- Jigawa State
- Kaduna State
- Kebbi State
- Sokoto State
- Zamfara State
North East
- Adamawa State
- Gombe State
- Taraba State
- Yobe State
North Central
- Kogi State
- Federal Capital Territory
Total Northern states without NPFL clubs: 11
SOUTH
South West
- Ekiti State
- Osun State
South East
- Anambra State
- Ebonyi State
South South
- Cross River State
Total Southern states without NPFL clubs: 5
Out of Nigeria’s 36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory (37 units), 16 currently have no NPFL club representation.
The imbalance is more pronounced in the North, particularly in the North West and North East zones.