The Super Ligue, formerly known as Ligue 1, is the top division of football in Niger. There are 14 teams competing in the league, which operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Ligue Nationale.
| Founded | 1966 |
|---|---|
| Country | Niger |
| Confederation | CAF |
| Number of teams | 14 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Ligue Nationale |
| Domestic cup(s) | Niger Cup |
| International cup(s) | Champions League Confederation Cup |
| Current champions | AS GNN (2023–24) |
| Most championships | Sahel SC (13) |
| Current: 2024–25 Ligue 1 | |
The league began in 1966, with Secteur 6 winning the first five championships. It was known as the Ligue 1 between 2010[1] and 2018,[2] when it changed its name to Super Ligue.[3]
History
editAlthough the championship has been contested since 1966, the structure has changed over time, and a number of years the competition has been canceled or shortened. In 2002, the league was completely cancelled.[4]
Several major clubs dropped out in 2004 and 2005 for financial reasons and because of the 2005 famine afflicting the south center of the nation. In 2004, for instance, three clubs in the first round were disqualified, and more than two dozen matches were annulled or awarded after the fact for a variety of offences.[5]
Since the 1990s, the clubs compete in a group stage, the winners of which advance to the "Super League" which contests the second half of the season, with the losers contesting a league to determine what clubs will be relegated to the Regional leagues. The Leagues in each of the Nigerien regions (called the Nigerien D2 Championships) then send champions to a play-off to determine which two clubs will be promoted.[4]
Historically, Niamey has had the most accomplished regional league, and has provided most clubs in the national championship. Only two clubs from outside Niamey have ever won the championship.[4] The Ligue de Niamey has been powerful enough that, after disputes over relegation on 2000, five Niamey clubs formed their own rival competition (the "Coupe des Sponsors"), and played only the Ligue de Niamey championship in the 2002 season, when the Nigerien Football Federation cancelled the season due to funding shortfalls.[6]
Current clubs (2021−22 season)
edit| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akokana FC | Arlit | Stade d'Arlit | 7,000 |
| AS Douanes | Niamey | Stade Général Seyni Kountché | 50,000 |
| AS Forces Armées | Niamey | Stade du Camp Bagagi Iya | 5,000 |
| AS GNN | Niamey | Stade Général Seyni Kountché | 50,000 |
| AS Police | Niamey | Stade Général Seyni Kountché | 50,000 |
| AS SONIDEP | Niamey | Stade municipal de Niamey | 5,000 |
| ASN Nigelec | Niamey | Stade Général Seyni Kountché | 50,000 |
| Espoir FC | Zinder | Stade de Zinder | 10,000 |
| JS Tahoua | Tahoua | Stade Régional de Tahoua | 5,000 |
| Olympic Niamey | Niamey | Stade Général Seyni Kountché | 50,000 |
| RC Boukoki | Niamey | Stade Général Seyni Kountché | 50,000 |
| Sahel SC | Niamey | Stade Général Seyni Kountché | 50,000 |
| Urana FC | Arlit | Stade d'Arlit | 7,000 |
| US Gendarmerie Nationale | Niamey | Stade Général Seyni Kountché | 50,000 |
Previous champions
editPerformance by club
edit| Club | Titles | Winning seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Sahel SC | 13 | 1973, 1974, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2006–07, 2009 |
| Olympic FC | 12 | 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1989, 1997–98, 1999, 2011–12 |
| ASGNN | 6 | 2004–05, 2005–06, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2022–23, 2023–24 |
| AS FAN | 5 | 1971, 1975, 2010, 2015–16, 2016–17 |
| AS Niamey | 3 | 1980, 1981, 1982 |
| Zumunta AC | 3 | 1985, 1988, 1993 |
| AS Douanes | 2 | 2012–13, 2014–15 |
| AS SONIDEP | 2 | 2017–18, 2018–19 |
| JS du Ténéré | 2 | 2000, 2001 |
| Espoir FC | 1 | 1984 |
| Jangorzo FC | 1 | 1983 |
| AS Police | 1 | 2008 |
| US Gendarmerie Nationale | 1 | 2020–21 |
| ASN Nigelec | 1 | 2021–22 |
Top goalscorers
edit| Season | Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 |  Victorien Adebayor |
GNN | 22 |
Multiple hat-tricks
edit| Rank | Country | Player | Hat-tricks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
Victorien Adebayor | 1 |
References
edit- ^ "Niger 2010/11". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 25 June 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ "Niger 2017/18". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 25 June 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ "Niger 2018/19". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 25 June 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "RSSSF Championships". Archived from the original on 24 October 2008. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
- ^ RSSSF 2004 season review Archived 5 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine For instance, one match was abandoned and BOTH clubs were assigned 0–3 losses.
- ^ RSSSF 2001 Archived 2 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine, RSSSF 2002 Archived 25 June 2024 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Le Niger annule lui aussi sa saison". www.sofoot.com. 5 May 2020. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
External links
edit- League at FIFA.com (archived 22 November 2007)
- RSSSF competition history
- Rec Sports Soccer Foundation: Niger 2008: Championnat national de première division.
- UEMOA Cup, Niger qualifying page, 2008 (archived 8 January 2013)