Super Ligue (Niger)

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.

Super Ligue
Founded1966
CountryNiger
ConfederationCAF
Number of teams14
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toLigue Nationale
Domestic cup(s)Niger Cup
International cup(s)Champions League
Confederation Cup
Current championsAS GNN
(2022–23)
Most championshipsSahel SC (13)
Current: 2023–24 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

Although 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)
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

Performance by club
Club City Titles Winning seasons
Sahel SC (includes Secteur 7)Niamey131973, 1974, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2006–07, 2009
Olympic FC (includes Secteur 6)Niamey121966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1989, 1997–98, 1999, 2011–12
AS FANNiamey51971, 1975, 2010, 2015–16, 2016–17
AS GNN (includes AS-FNIS)Niamey52004–05, 2005–06, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2022-23
AS NiameyNiamey31980, 1981, 1982
Zumunta ACNiamey31985, 1988, 1993
AS DouanesNiamey22012–13, 2014–15
AS SONIDEPNiamey22017–18, 2018–19
JS du TénéréNiamey22000, 2001
Espoir FCZinder11984
Jangorzo FCMaradi11983
AS PoliceNiamey12008
US Gendarmerie NationaleNiamey12020–21
ASN NigelecNiamey12021–22

References
  1. "Niger 2010/11". RSSSF. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  2. "Niger 2017/18". RSSSF. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  3. "Niger 2018/19". RSSSF. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  4. RSSSF Championships
  5. RSSSF 2004 season review For instance, one match was abandoned and BOTH clubs were assigned 0–3 losses.
  6. RSSSF 2001, RSSSF 2002
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