Rivers United, Enyimba Break into World’s Top 500 Clubs
Last update: February 26, 2026
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IFFHS ranking: Rivers United, Enyimba fly Nigeria’s flag among world’s best...
Two of Nigeria’s most prominent club sides, Rivers United and Enyimba, have secured spots among the world’s top 500 teams in the latest five-year rankings released by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).
In the IFFHS Men’s Club World Ranking spanning January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2025, Rivers United are placed 278th globally with 361.75 points, while Enyimba rank 421st with 280 points.
Notably, the duo are the only Nigerian clubs to feature in the prestigious top 500 list.
The IFFHS ranking evaluates clubs’ performances in domestic leagues, continental competitions and global tournaments over a five-year period, providing a broader measure of consistency rather than rewarding a single standout season.
For Rivers United, the ranking underscores a period of sustained progress.
The Port Harcourt-based club won the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) title in the 2021/22 season and finished third in the 2022/23 campaign.
On the continental scene, Rivers United reached the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup in back-to-back seasons (2022/23 and 2023/24) and have since qualified for the group stage of the 2025/26 CAF Champions League.
Enyimba, widely regarded as Nigeria’s most decorated club side, also maintained relevance during the review period.
The Aba-based club clinched their ninth league title in 2023 and recorded two third-place finishes within the five-year window.
They have remained active in CAF competitions, including participation in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage in the 2024/25 season.
However, despite their global recognition, Enyimba are enduring a challenging domestic campaign and currently sit just one point above the relegation zone in the ongoing NPFL season.
In contrast, Rivers United are enjoying another strong campaign and currently top the NPFL table with two matches in hand.
Their consistency on the continent is also reflected in CAF’s five-year club coefficient rankings, where Rivers United are placed 24th and Enyimba 35th — again, the only Nigerian teams on the list.
At the summit of the IFFHS global standings, Spanish giants Real Madrid occupy first position, followed by Manchester City and Brazilian side CR Flamengo.
Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich complete the top five.
The recognition for Rivers United and Enyimba comes amid broader concerns about Nigerian club football.
In the 2025 IFFHS league rankings, the NPFL dropped 15 places to 91st globally, accumulating 171.75 points.
The league standings, which factor in both domestic and continental results, reflect ongoing structural challenges in Nigerian football.
