The Pro League Championnat de Football National Division 1 (known as Orange Pro League Madagascar for sponsorship reasons) is the premier football league in Madagascar. Prior to 2019, it was known as the Three Horses Beer-sponsored THB Champions League.
The highest scoring football match ever in history occurred in this tournament in 2002 when SO I’Emyrne scored 149 own goals in protest of a refereeing decision.
Format
1962-2019:
The competition is played in a round-robin format between the 24 qualifying clubs from the 22 regional leagues in the country. In the first round, the teams are divided into four groups of six teams, with each team playing the others once, and with the top three clubs of each group advancing to the next round. In the second round, the teams are divided into two groups of six teams, with each team playing the others once, and with the top two clubs of each group advancing to the final round. In the final round, called the Groupe des As, the four teams play each other twice and the winner is crowned as the champion.
Late 2019-present:
In October 2019, the competition evolved to be a more professional league comprising 12 teams. Each team square off against each other twice (1 home match and 1 away) during the course of the season. The team having the most points at the end of the season becomes Malagasy champions.
From December 2019, the competition became known as Orange Pro League Madagascar due to sponsorship reasons.
Current clubs (season 2022/2023)
Northern Group
Fosa Juniors FC (Mahanjanga) COSFA (Antananarivo) AS Fanalamanga (Alaotra-Mangoro) AJESAIA (Itaosy) USCA Foot (Antananarivo) TFFC (Tsaramandroso Formation Football Club) Tia Kitra FC (Toamasina) Club ASA (Ambondrona)
Southern Group
CFFA (Andoharanofotsy) ASSM Elgeco Plus (Analamanga) Mama FCA (Ilakaka) Disciples FC (Antsirabe) Zanak'Ala FC (Fianarantsoa) JET Kintana (Antananarivo) DATO FC (Farafangana) 3FB Toliara (Toliara/Tulear)
Previous winners
THB Champions League
1956 : Ambatondrazaka Sport
1957–61 : unknown
1962 : AS Fortior (Toamasina) 1963 : AS Fortior (Toamasina) 1964–67 : unknown 1968 : Fitarikandro (Fianarantsoa) 1969 : US Fonctionnaires (Antananarivo) 1970 : MMM Toamasina 1971 : AS St. Michel (Antananarivo) 1972 : Fortior Mahajanga 1973 : JS Antalaha 1974 : AS Corps Enseignement (Toliara) 1975 : AS Corps Enseignement (Toliara) 1976 : no championship 1977 : AS Corps Enseignement (Toliara) 1978 : AS St. Michel (Antananarivo) 1979 : Fortior Mahajanga 1980 : MMM Toamasina 1981 : AS Somasud (Toliara) 1982 : Dinamo Fima (Antananarivo) 1983 : Dinamo Fima (Antananarivo) 1984 : no championship 1985 : AS Sotema (Mahajanga) 1986 : BTM Antananarivo 1987 : Jos Nosy-Bé (Hell-Ville) 1988 : COSFAP Antananarivo (Antananarivo) 1989 : AS Sotema (Mahajanga) 1990 : ASF Fianarantsoa 1991 : AS Sotema (Mahajanga) 1992 : AS Sotema (Mahajanga) 1993 : BTM Antananarivo 1994 : FC Rainizafy 1995 : Fobar (Toliara) 1996 : FC BFV (Antananarivo) 1997 : DSA Antananarivo 1998 : DSA Antananarivo 1999 : AS Fortior (Toamasina) 2000 : AS Fortior (Toamasina) 2001 : SO l'Emyrne (Antananarivo) 2002 : AS Adema (Antananarivo) 2003 : Ecoredipharm (Tamatave) 2004 : USJF/Ravinala (Antananarivo) 2005 : USCA Foot (Antananarivo) 2006 : AS Adema (Antananarivo) 2007 : Ajesaia (Antananarivo) 2008 : Académie Ny Antsika (Vakinankaratra) 2009 : Ajesaia (Antananarivo) 2010 : CNaPS Sport (Miarinarivo) 2011 : Japan Actuel's FC (Analamanga) 2012 : AS Adema (Antananarivo) 2013 : CNaPS Sport (Miarinarivo) 2014 : CNaPS Sport (Miarinarivo) 2015 : CNaPS Sport (Miarinarivo) 2016 : CNaPS Sport (Miarinarivo) 2017 : CNaPS Sport (Miarinarivo) 2018 : CNaPS Sport (Miarinarivo) 2019 : Fosa Juniors (Mahajanga) 2019–20 : abandoned 2020–21 : AS Adema (Antananarivo)
Orange Pro League
2021-22 : CFFA (Andoharanofotsy) 2022-23 : Fosa Juniors (Mahajanga)