Which is the best football league in Africa, and why is it the best?

Which is the best football league in Africa, and why is it the best?

Babu Tendu
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:14 PM

Football is a sport that is well embraced in Africa and is well spread all over the continent. It is arguably the most engaged-in sport on the continent. Some of the talented figures in Europe's elite premierships were great players in the African championships before the biggest clubs in the world discovered them. The best football league in Africa has the biggest talents and infrastructure on the continent.

Best football league in Africa
Get to know the best football leagues in the African continent.
Source: Getty Images

When seeding teams for different continental competitions like the CAF CL and the CAF Confederations Cup, Africa, unlike other continents, uses a different ranking system.

Which country has the best football league in Africa?

Many football championships in the continent are regarded as top competitions. However, Sportsbrief.com will rank the top 10 best football leagues in Africa concerning its influence, talent, and infrastructure.

10. Malian Première Division

Mali's top football division, the tenth, was created in 1966. The Malian Football Federation is in charge of it and has been a professional one since 2004. The premiership’s official name is Ligue 1 Orange Mali because Orange is its official sponsor. It typically runs from late August to late December.

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Best football leagues in Africa
Mali's defender Falaye Sacko during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2021 match between Mali and Equatorial Guinea at Limbe Omnisport Stadium in Limbe on January 26, 2022. Photo by Issouf SANOGO.
Source: Getty Images

Mali has fourteen clubs, unlike other African premierships, and its champions represent the nation in the CAF CL. The championship continues to be among the best the continent can offer, despite having its difficulties. It is one of the best playing football leagues in Africa.

9. Nigeria Professional League

The premier domestic soccer competition in Nigeria is called the Nigeria Professional League. Since 1972, the tournament has been in existence. Because of its outstanding records, top-notch players, and lucrative sponsorship deals, it is one of the continent's best and most prosperous national soccer leagues.

Most popular football league in Africa
Nigerian forward Paul Onuachu during the Belgian Pro League First Division football match between KRC Genk and KVC Westerlo at the Cegeka Arena in Genk on October 18, 2022. Photo by Jasper JACOBS.
Source: Getty Images

World-class soccer players and teams that have won numerous continental trophies and awards have been produced by the Nigeria Professional League over the years. Supersport is the exclusive TV rights holder for all Nigeria Professional Football matches.

8. Ligue 1 (Ivory Coast)

One of the top championships on the continent was founded in 1960 and is known as The Ivory Coast MTN Ligue 1. It's interesting to note that Ivory Coast has given birth to several African celebrities who have achieved great success working in Europe (the likes of Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Yaya Toure, Emmanuel Eboue, and so on).

Which country has the best football league in Africa?
An Ivory Coast fan runs on the field at the end of Japan v Ivory Coast International Friendly match at Stade de Toubillon on June 4, 2010, in Sion, Switzerland. Photo by Mark Kolbe.
Source: Getty Images

7. South African Premier Division

One of the top national soccer premierships in the continent and the highest level in South Africa is the South Africa Premier Division. Since 1996, the premiership has been in operation. The South African premiership produces players of high quality. Additionally, it is very competitive.

Best playing football leagues in Africa
Mogogi Gabonamong and Wolff Keamogetse during the Absa Premiership match between SuperSport United and Chippa United on April 10, 2013, in Pretoria, South Africa. Photo by Lefty Shivambu.
Source: Getty Images

The ABSA Premiership, also known as South Africa's premier division, has lucrative sponsorship agreements. The ABSA premiership takes its name from its sponsor. In terms of media coverage, it is also not short on that.

It currently has a huge TV deal with the Supersport satellite in its nation. With a net valuation of $161. 66 million, the South African Premiership is currently the third-richest national soccer league in Africa.

6. Algerian Ligue Professionnelle 1

Since 1962, not long after Algeria gained independence, there has been an Algerian professional league known as Ligue 1. The premiership is among the most popular and rapidly expanding in Africa.

At both the continental and national levels, it has excelled in terms of player caliber, match transparency, and competitive teams. Eleven clubs from Algeria's Ligue Professionelle 1 have produced five national championship titles.

Top 10 best football leagues in Africa
Kenya's club side Gor Mahia's Jacques Tuyisenge (R) vies for the ball against Algeria's USM Alger's Qualid Ardji on May 16, 2018, at the Kasarani stadium in Nairobi. Photo by TONY KARUMBA.
Source: Getty Images

Since 2009, Nedjma and ATM Mobilis have had significant sponsorship deals with Ligue 1. Additionally, the premiership has broadcast agreements with networks like Algerian TV, Canal Algérie, Algeria 3&4, and Qatar's Al-Kass Sports Channel. It is a decent African football league.

5. Ghana Premier League

The Ghana Premier League is one of the continent's best professional national soccer leagues. The Ghana football association formally established the league in 1956. The competition has grown significantly over time in every respect.

There are currently 18 clubs competing in the championship, and Startimes broadcasts all of the games live. The Ghana Premiership is sponsored by illustrious businesses like MTN, Puma, Nasco, and Startimes.

4. The Botola

This is the fourth-best African professional league; it is played in Morocco. The Moroccan Premier League and The Botola, meaning "The Tournament," are the synonymous names used to refer to the competition. Sixteen clubs compete in the premiership.

The football organization has used Morocco's attractive infrastructure to ensure the advancement of the premiership. It is a championship with teams with nice stadiums and players who are compensated fairly. It is one of the best football leagues in Africa.

3. The Linafoot

The Linafoot is one of the continent's most prosperous national soccer leagues and the top division in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since 1958, the competition has been in operation.

African football league
TP Mazembe's team pose before the football match between Esperance Tunis and Tout Puissant Mazembe at the Olympic stadium of Rades on April 27, 2019. Photo by FETHI BELAID.
Source: Getty Images

Linafoot has produced five clubs with six championships at the collegiate level of African soccer. On the list of African soccer clubs, the Linafoot league's TP Mazembe is currently ranked third. The Republic of Congo and Super Coupe du Congo are two domestic cups held at the championship.

2. Egyptian Premier League

Since 1948, there has been an EPL in Egypt. Until a riot erupted in 2012, the league had one of the highest attendance rates in the continent.

All games were played behind closed doors until late 2017 due to the riot. Playing behind closed doors had no impact on the league's performance. Ramadan Sohbi, the current most valuable player in the continent, and Al Alhy, the top soccer team in Africa, are both products of it.

Best leagues in the world
Badr Banoun of the Al Ahly team battles for possession with H. Ahadad (7) of the Al Raja team during the match between Al Ahly and Raja Casablanca in Qatar, on 22nd December 2021. Photo by Ayman Aref.
Source: Getty Images

The CAF 5-year ranking list and the list of all-time successful national soccer leagues in the continent place the Egyptian Premier Championship second and third, respectively. Since 2005, there have been many sponsorships for the Egyptian Premier Championship. It is arguably the most popular football league in Africa.

1. Tunisia Ligue Professionelle 1

The highest level of soccer competition in Tunisia is called Ligue Professionelle 1. It was founded by the Tunisia Football Federation in 1921. (FTF). According to CAF's all-time rankings of nations, the premiership is currently the most prosperous national soccer championship in the continent.

It produced five clubs with a combined total of six continental championships. According to Sokka, Tunisia Ligue Professionelle has a net valuation of approximately $100.42 million, making it the fifth wealthiest national soccer championship in the continent. It is one of the best leagues in the world.

Esperance de Tunis, a team in the Tunisia Ligue Professionelle, finished second in the 2020 African National Soccer Club Ranking and won the CAF Champions League in 2021. The main broadcasters of the Tunisia Ligue Professionnelle 1 are El Wataniya 1, El Wataniya 2, and Al-Kass sport.

The best football league in Africa is in Tunisia. The league in Tunisia boasts some of the best talents in the continent. It arguably has the best infrastructure in African football. It has the biggest influence on African football.

READ ALSO: 1930 World Cup: When was the first World Cup played, and who won it?

Sportsbrief.com recently posted about the 1930 World Cup. Football started in time immemorial. However, the most famous tournament in football started in 1930. The tournament involved representative national teams from different parts of the world.

The football governing body, FIFA, made this competition to mark the start of the newly made football constitution. The 1930 World Cup host nation was Uruguay. Click on the link above to learn more!

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Babu Tendu
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