Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi believes that the South African Betway Premiership is far superior to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), particularly in terms of player exposure and global reach.
Akpeyi, who currently plays for Marumo Gallants, compared the two leagues, pointing out that the NPFL, despite its potential, is still lagging behind.
Established over five decades ago, the NPFL once enjoyed a high ranking, particularly in 2012 when it was named the best in Africa and ranked 24th in the world by the IFFHS, even above the Scottish Premier League. However, the Nigerian league's standing has since slipped, falling behind leagues in countries like Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa.
No comparison between NPFL and PSL
Akpeyi, who previously played for Kaizer Chiefs, encouraged more Nigerian players to explore opportunities in South Africa's Premier Soccer League (PSL), which he believes provides better visibility for talents on the global stage.
“To be quite honest with you, Nigerians have to consider this league because without disrespect, with all humility, there’s no way you can compare the Nigerian league and the South African league,” Akpeyi told FARPost.
While acknowledging the raw talent in Nigeria, Akpeyi pointed to the limitations of the NPFL in terms of international recognition. “We have a lot of good players in Nigeria, a lot of good talent in Nigeria, but they need this kind of exposure for their talent to be seen around the world,” he added.
Super Eagles talents in South Africa
Several Nigerian players have followed Akpeyi’s path to South Africa, including Etiosa Ighodaro (AmaZulu), Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates), and Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United). Akpeyi believes these players, like many before them, benefit from the structure and visibility of the South African league.
“The PSL league is one of the top six leagues in Africa. With all the talent that we have in Nigeria, if you can find the way in the PSL, trust me it’s easy to showcase yourself to the world,” Akpeyi remarked.
In the past, Super Eagles stars such as Raphael Chukwu and Greg Etafia made a name for themselves in South Africa’s topflight.
