During the early stages of the development of club football in Nigeria
Clubs from the city of Lagos were dominating the Nigeria football until 1972 when the first league championship was organised by the federation.
Before the Nigeria league was formed, there was football competition in Nigeria dated back to 1940s which is the Nigeria FA cup, the oldest football competition in Nigeria.
The Nigeria FA was dominated by clubs like Lagos Marine and Lagos railway from 1940 to 1950 before teams from Calabar, Port Harcourt and Ibadan started writing their names on the list of champions.
After the league was formed in 1972, Mighty Jets and Bendel Insurance were the first two winners before Enugu Rangers dominance started in the third season of league.
In 1976, Shooting Stars sports club of Ibadan won their first title after Rangers won the title back to back in 1974 and 1975
Iwuanyanwu Nationale ( Heartland FC) came into the party of champions in 1987 with Enugu Rangers already leading the chart of most successful club in the league with 5 titles while Shooting Stars and Bendel Insurance were on three and two titles.
Iwuanyanwu Nationale ( Heartland FC) won the league 4 times in row, from 1987 to 1991 before Julius Berger of Lagos ended their dominance in 1992.
Nigeria, Most Successful club, Enyimba came into the limelight in 2001, ever since then Enyimba has been the most consistent team in the league followed by Kano Pillars who had their first title in 2008.
Here are list of some Nigeria great clubs during the 70s, 80s and 90s
Enugu Rangers – Enugu State
IICC now 3SC- Ibadan, Oyo State
Railways – Lagos State
NNB- Benin, Edo State
Calabar Rovers- Calabar, Cross River
Mighty Jets – Jos, Plateau State
Racca Rovers- Kano
Kaduna Rocks- Kaduna
Sharks PH, Rivers State
Eagle Cement- PH, Rivers State
Spartans now Heartland
Iwuanyanwu Nationale – Owerri, Imo State
Obeya Babes- Benue State
BCC Lions – Gboko, Benue State.
Abiola Babes- Ogun State- Abeokuta
Leventis- Ibadan, Oyo State
NUB – Kaduna
DIC bees later Ranchers Bees- Kaduna
Udoji Boys – Akwa, Anambra State
Bendel Insurance- Benin, Edo State
NNPC- Warri, Delta State
DSC – Aladja, Delta State
Sokoto United – Sokoto State
IBB – Minna, Niger State
Elkanemi Warriors – Borno State
Highlanders- Jos, Plateau State
Crown FC – Ogbomosho, Oyo State
Julius Berger – Lagos State
Stationaries Stores – Lagos
