Rivers United Football Club has emerged as the highest-ranked Nigerian side in the latest Confederation of African Football club rankings, placing 24th on the continental list with 14 points. The Port Harcourt-based club has established itself as Nigeria’s most consistent representative in CAF competitions in recent seasons.
The CAF has released its latest club rankings ahead of the 2025/26 continental campaign, with the preliminary round draw for the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup set to take place tomorrow in Tanzania.Enyimba Football Club, Nigeria’s most successful club on the continent, missed out on the top 30 clubs in the latest rankings, placing 35th with 7 points.
The two-time Champions League winners, once a dominant force on the continent, have struggled to make significant progress in recent editions of CAF competitions.
Their last notable appearance came in the 2024/25 Confederation Cup group stage, but early elimination and inconsistent showings in recent years have affected their coefficient standing.The rankings are based on clubs’ performances in CAF competitions over the last five seasons, with greater weight placed on recent results.
Rivers United’s superior ranking reflects their more consistent showings in continental competition compared to other Nigerian representatives, establishing them as the country’s premier club in terms of CAF coefficient points.Al Ahly FC of Egypt tops the overall continental list with 78 points, followed by South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns with 62 points and Tunisia’s Espérance Sportive de Tunis with 57 points.
The Egyptian giants have maintained their position as Africa’s premier club side through sustained excellence in the Champions League, whilst Sundowns have emerged as the continent’s second-strongest outfit.The draw for both the Champions League and Confederation Cup competitions will take place on Saturday in Tanzania, with fixtures expected to begin in the coming weeks.
The rankings will play a crucial role in determining seeding for the preliminary rounds, potentially affecting the draw outcomes for Nigerian representatives in both competitions.
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