Benin Premier League
The Benin Premier League, also called Championnat National du Bénin in French, is the highest football division in Benin. The league was held in 1969 for the first time. Currently, it is composed of 14 clubs playing a double round-robin tournament. The winner of the Premier League earns a place in the CAF Champions League. The last two clubs are relegated to Second Division which is composed of 11 teams.
Clubs 2016
Groupe A
- AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé
- ASOS
- Ayema
- ESAE
- JA Cotonou
- Requins de l'Atlantique FC
- USS Kraké
Groupe B
- AS Police FC
- ASPAC FC
- Buffles du Borgou FC
- Energie FC
- Mogas 90 FC
- Panthères FC
- Tonnerre d'Abomey FC
Previous champions
- 1969 : FAD Cotonou
- 1970 : AS Porto-Novo
- 1971 : AS Cotonou
- 1972 : AS Porto-Novo
- 1973 : AS Porto-Novo
- 1974 : Etoile Sportive Porto-Novo
- no championship between 1975 and 1977
- 1978 : AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé
- 1979 : AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé
- 1980 : Buffles du Borgou FC
- 1981 : Ajijas Cotonou
- 1982 : AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé
- 1983 : AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé
- 1984 : Lions de l'Atakory
- 1985 : Requins de l'Atlantique FC
- 1986 : AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé
- 1987 : Requins de l'Atlantique FC
- 1988 : no championship
- 1989 : AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé
- 1990 : Requins de l'Atlantique FC
- 1991 : Postel Sport FC
- 1992 : Buffles du Borgou FC
- 1993 : AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé
- 1994 : AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé
- 1995 : Toffa Cotonou
- 1996 : Mogas 90 FC
- 1997 : Mogas 90 FC
- 1998 : AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé
- 1999 : AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé
- no official championship between 2000 and 2001
- 2001/02 : AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé
- 2003 : AS Dragons FC de l'Ouémé
- 2004 : not finished
- 2005 : no championship
- 2005/06 : Mogas 90 FC
- 2007 : Tonnerre d'Abomey FC
- 2008/09 : declared invalid
- 2009 : no competition
- 2009/10 : ASPAC FC
- 2010/11 : suspended
- 2011/12 : ASPAC FC
- 2012/13 : Jeunesse Athlétique du Plateau
- 2013/14 : Buffles du Borgou FC
- 2014/15 : abandoned
- 2016 : abandoned
- 2017 : Buffles du Borgou FC
- 2018/19 : Buffles du Borgou FC
Performance by club
Champion Rankings
Note: There were no champions in 1975, 1976, 1977, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2008 and 2009. The championship was abandoned in 2004, 2010/11 2014/15 & 2015/16.Season | Champion | Runner Up |
1969 | FAD Cotonou | |
1970 | AS Porto-Novo | |
1971 | AS Cotonou | |
1972 | AS Porto-Novo | |
1973 | AS Porto-Novo | |
1974 | Étoile Sportive Porto-Novo | |
1975 | no competition | |
1976 | no competition | |
1977 | no competition | |
1978 | Dragons de l'Ouémé | |
1979 | Dragons de l'Ouémé | |
1980 | Buffles FC | |
1981 | Ajijas Cotonou | |
1982 | Dragons de l'Ouémé | Requins de l'Atlantique FC |
1983 | Dragons de l'Ouémé | |
1984 | Lions de l'Atacora | |
1985 | Requins de l'Atlantique FC | |
1986 | Dragons de l'Ouémé | |
1987 | Requins de l'Atlantique FC | |
1988 | no competition | |
1989 | Dragons de l'Ouémé | |
1990 | Requins de l'Atlantique FC | |
1991 | Postel Sport FC | |
1992 | Buffles FC | |
1993 | Dragons de l'Ouémé | |
1994 | Dragons de l'Ouémé | |
1995 | Toffa Cotonou | |
1996 | Mogas 90 FC | Dragons de l'Ouémé |
1997 | Mogas 90 FC | Dragons de l'Ouémé |
1998 | Dragons de l'Ouémé | Mogas 90 FC |
1999 | Dragons de l'Ouémé | Mogas 90 FC |
2000 | no official championship | |
2001 | no official championships | |
2002 | Dragons de l'Ouémé | Requins de l'Atlantique FC |
2003 | Dragons de l'Ouémé | Buffles FC |
2004 | abandoned | |
2005/06 | Mogas 90 FC | Dragons de l'Ouémé |
2007 | Tonnerre d'Abomey | Soleil FC |
2008/09 | transitional championship, declared invalid | |
2009/10 | AS Port autonome de Cotonou | Buffles de Borgou |
2010/11 | abandoned | |
2011/12 | AS Port autonome de Cotonou | Tonnerre FC |
2012/13 | Jeunesse Athlétique du Plateau | |
2013/14 | Buffles de Borgou | Panthères de Djougou |
2014/15 | abandoned | |
2015/16 | abandoned | |
2016/17 | Buffles de Borgou | Energie FC |