Wikipedia - Ýokary Liga
The Turkmenistan Higher League, also called Türkmenistan Ýokary Liga (Turkmen: Ýokary liga futbol klublarynyň arasyndaky futbol boýunça Türkmenistanyň çempionaty), is the top division of professional football in Turkmenistan, operated by the Turkmenistan Football Federation.
It was founded in 1992. Nine clubs participate in the Higher League of the Turkmenistan National Championship. The season runs between April and November.
There are 9 teams in the competition. As of the 2024 season, the league had one AFC Champions League 2 qualifying spot for the league winner league.
Since the introduction of the Turkmenistan Higher League in 1992, FC Altyn Asyr (8 times), FC Kopetdag (6 times), FC Nebitchi (4 times), FC Nisa (4 times), FC Yedigen (4 times), FC Ashgabat (2 times), FC Ahal (1 time), FC Arkadag and FC Shagadam (1 time) have won the title. FC Arkadag are the current champions for the first time.
History
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, starting in 1992, each former Soviet republic organized an independent national championship.
FC Kopetdag won the first four titles. Nisa Aşgabat was the only team which managed to break Kopetdag's dominance, winning the top division title in 1996.
In 2022, FC Ahal won the title for the first time in their history in Turkmenistan professional football.