May 2024

By Tayo Ogunseye

Another breathtaking results have been recorded by the NNL Clubs in the Round of 16 after Sokoto United, Inter Lagos, EFCC, Kebbi United and El-Kanemi Warriors secured their qualification to the quarter-final of the ongoing President Federation Cup.

More remarkable was the shocking result by Sokoto United who turned back heavyweights Enyimba of Aba with a 1-0 scoreline.

In other outcome, El-Kanemi Warriors also stopped Shooting Stars of Ibadan with a similar result while Bendel Insurance slayers Wikki Tourists were eased out by fellow NNL club EFCC with a lone result.

It took a penalty shootout for Inter Lagos to be separated from Ikorodu City 4-5 after score ended 1-1 in regulation time.

This impressive show by these clubs attracted the attention of the NNL Chairman George Aluo who described their performances in the Round of 16 as solid.

“This is a solid performance from our clubs! This has shown the quality of the NNL this season and we are proud of this satisfying results. With this their show of quality, I am confident that our clubs can go all the way to the final and win this title” he said.

In the quarter-final parings, EFCC FC will tackle Kebbi United while Abia Warriors will face Sokoto United.

El-Kanemi Warriors will engage Inter Lagos and Sunshine Stars will face Kano Pillars.

Quarter-Final Pairings

EFCC FC (FCT) Vs Kebbi United (Kebbi)

El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno) Vs Inter Lagos (Lagos)

Abia Warriors (Abia) Vs Sokoto United (Sokoto)

Sunshine Stars (Ondo) Vs Kano Pillars (Kano)

As part of it’s plans to bring the forthcoming Nigeria National League ( NNL) Super 8 closer to football fans, the board of the second tier League has announced a partnership deal with an indigenous dedicated Satellite channel, Metrodigital (SLTV) to broadcast live all the matches.

In a letter of consent sent to the NNL Board and signed by Paul Osuji Ph.D, the organisation’s Head of Operations, stated that following series of meetings they held with NNL management they have consented to taking the games live via one of their dedicated channels…A N FOOTBALL.
SLTV further stated that they would pick their signals from the streaming outfit that NNL has already struck a deal with Sports Light hub while commentaries will come courtesy of Radio Nigeria.

“Consequent upon our physical meetings with you and subsequent telephone conversations, Metrodigital (SLTV) consents to the NNL broadcast partnership for the Super 8 competition.

“With this acceptance, Metrodigital will broadcast the event live from your Facebook stream and Radio Nigeria commentaries as agreed,” said the statement.

The company also promised to do her best to promote sports especially football in the country.

Speaking on the partnership, an elated Chief Executive Officer of NNL, Emmanuel Attah commended the company for partnering the league body to develop the country’s football, describing the partnership as a welcome development which will go a long way in bringing the second tier league closer to the people.

“I must commend the company for partnering with us. You are aware that we are in digital age and the company accepting to take the matches live will enable fans to watch all the matches from the comfort of their homes, on their mobile networks, offices or business places.”

According to him, the deal is part of the plans of the present board of the most important league in the country to make sure that all Nigerians have a feel of the actions in the Super 8, noting that they will continue to do more to make the league better just as he posited that this is just the beginning of their relationship with the company.

Me.Attah appealed to Nigerians to go for the very affordable SLTV dish which is an indigenous outfit that is adding value to the country’s football.

The Super 8 which holds from June 7-14 in Enugu is organised annually at the end of the league to determine the overall champion of the second tier League as well as teams that will gain promotion to the elite league.

The eight teams that qualified for the championship are; Nasarawa United, Sporting Supreme of Abuja, Sokoto United and El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri. Others are Beyond Limits FC of Ikenne Remo, Madiba FC of Lagos , Inter Lagos and Ikorodu City FC.

By Tayo Ogunseye

Another climb has been recorded in the positive indices posted in the overall performance in 2023/2024 season as seven Nigeria National League (NNL) clubs have qualified for the Round of 16 of the President Federation Cup.

Super 8 contenders; Ikorodu City, Sokoto United, Inter Lagos, El-Kanemi Warriors with Wikki Tourists, EFCC and Kebbi United are making a strong statement in the oldest football competition in the land.

The high grade of competition exhibited by the clubs this season could be attributed to the clubs performance in the regular season.

Wikki Tourists confirmed the assertion by creating an upset as the Bauchi based club under the guidance of coach Muhammed Azeez shocked the defending champions Bendel Insurance with a 2-0 result in the Round of 32 at Area 3 Ground in Abuja.

Goals from Promise Damala and Owolabi Aremu ensured the Kaura Boys’ passage to the next round.The victory signpost the improvement and confidence the second-tier clubs now exhibit.

Last season, five clubs; Heartland, Edel FC, EFCC, Doma FC and Warri Wolves made it to this stage.NNL Chairman George Aluo expressed his happiness for the positive performance of the clubs.He commended the clubs for representing the NNL well in the President Federation Cup.

“First and foremost, I want to congratulate Ikorodu City, Inter Lagos, Sokoto United, El Kanemi Warriors, EFCC, Wikki Tourists and Kebbi United for qualifying to the President Federation Cup Round of 16.

With the fixtures, at least two NNL teams are guaranteed to be in the quarter-final because Ikorodu City will meet Inter Lagos while Sokoto United and Wikki Tourists who eliminated the defending champions Bendel Insurance will meet EFCC.This is an improvement from what it was last season. Our NNL clubs are doing well based on the enabling atmosphere my board and every stakeholder have provided to see that football develops under the right atmosphere.With what we are witnessing in the President Federation Cup and four of the teams who qualified for the Super 8 already in the Round of 16, it shows that the best of football in ‘The Most Important League’ will be on display for all to see and enjoy” he concluded.

The Technical Director of the NFF, Augustine Eguavoen has revealed that the Technical Department of the Football body will be fully represented at the NNL Super 8 playoff holding in Enugu early next month.

Eguavoen who declared his readiness to be in the Coal City Enugu to watch the games. ‘Cerezo’ as he is fondly called, described the NNL as a very important domestic league in Nigeria due to the abundance of young players who ply their trade in it.

Quoting his words, Eguavoen said “NNL is very important , it is a Nigeria Football Federation critical project, we have such important age bracket of players in the league that should serve to feed the national U-20 and U-23 teams. I can also say that coach of the Flying Eagles Ladan Bosso,should be in Enugu which obviously provides the platform for him to scout for players.”Cerezo as he is fondly called further quiped that the eight coaches of the qualified teams and their technical crew must ensure they portray the best of standards and quality at all times on and off the pitch “We expect the best of behaviours from the coaches and their crew to conform with global standard,the national and global focus will be on NNL and the conduct of the coaches will speak volume for us,we at NFF too we will closely monitor the coaches .Am sure they are forward looking ,they should concern themselves more with producing the best teams and deploying the best of tactics to excel”

Another Nigerian international Garba Lawal equally admonished the teams and their management to ensure better discipline.

“We can not afford to rubbish ourselves and the league,this league is important,i started my career with this league at Nigeria Union Bank (NUB) Football Club of Kaduna and I also had a club Real Stars FC also of Kaduna that played and coached in the NNL,all my life I always preach discipline,it is the watchword.”

The NNL promotional Super Eight is scheduled to hold at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, from the 7- 14 of June, 2024 .

Maiduguri based side El-Kanemi Warriors will tango with Nasarawa United in a potentially explosive Nigeria National League(NNL) Super eight starter in Day one.

The fixture was revealed in an open Super 8 draw conducted at the NNL secretariat Obasanjo Way Wuse Zone 7,Abuja on Wednesday.

The draw conducted in the presence of all eight teams also pitched Sporting Supreme of Abuja against Sokoto United, incidentally both teams played in the same conferences C and D during the just concluded regular season.

Beyond Limits of Ikenne will challenge for honours in their first outing against conference A group leaders Madiba of Lagos while,Group B leaders Ikorodu City will square off with another Lagos side Inter Lagos Football Club.

All matches will take place at the “Cathedral” Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu from the 7th -the 14th of next month.The first games will go from Saturday 8 of June .

The Super eight was originally scheduled to hold May 23rd – 30th.Meanwhile,NNL Chairman Mr.George Aluo has officially congratulated the eight teams for the NNL Promotional Play- Off describing them as the best Clubs in the NNL.

He urged them to ensure they will be good ambassadors of the league in all ramifications at the Super 8.He announced that a cash of five million naira will be given to the Champion of NNL for the season.

The veteran journalist promised that the Super 8 will be streamed live courtesy of a partnership with Sportslight Company and live broadcast by Radio Nigeria (FRCN).

Present at the Super eight draw were the President of the Nigeria Football Federation Mr. Ibrahim Gusau ably represented by Head of National Competitions Mr. Danlami Alanana, Head of Technical Department, Austin Eguaveon, NFF Chief Scout UK based Lekan Aleshe, former International Garba Lawal;Vice Chairman of NNL Hon. Ahmed Mailantarki, NNL Chief Executive Officer Mr. Emmanuel Attah and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Ayo Abdulrahaman.

As part of it’s efforts to create enough awareness for the country’s second tier league, the board of Nigeria National League ( NNL) has entered into agreement with Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria to run life commentaries of all the Super 8 matches to be held in Enugu from June, 7-14, 2024.

Disclosing this to NNL media, chairman of the League Board, Mr. George Aluo said the arrangement will offer Nigerians opportunity of following the games from the kick off to the finals even as he commended the largest Radio network in Africa for the deal.

” I’m very excited with the arrangement because for the first time in the history of the league, FRCN will air our matches live. What this means is that football fans in the remotest villages of the country will follow the competition from the beginning to the end because Radio Nigeria covers all parts of the country and I must have to say a very big thank you to FRCN management.

The Super 8 is organised annually at the end of the league to determine the overall champion of the second tier League as well as teams that will gain promotion to the elite league.

The eight teams that qualified for the championship are; Nasarawa Utd, Sporting Supreme of Abuja, Sokoto Utd and El-Kanemi Warriors. Others are Beyond Limit FC, Madiba FC, Inter Lagos and Ikorodu Utd.

The Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria National League (NNL), Dr. Ayo Abdulrahaman was on Monday in Abuja elected as the 1st Vice Chairman, National Association of Physical,Health,Education,Recreation and Dance, (NAPHER-SD), Abuja Chapter.
Over 45 members of the body of professional sports adminiatrators and athletes voted overwhelmingly for the NNL topgun to become one of the executives that will run the affairs of the body for the next four pyears.

Dr. Ayo Abdulrahaman is a specialist in Sports management having obtained a PHD in his career at the renowned Nigerian University, the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria. He also had a BSC in Education at another Nigerian University, the University of Benin (UNIBEN).
He is currently an Assistant Director with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Speaking to NNL Media shortly after his election he said : “It is a team work for us ,we are ready to hit the ground running to enable us to revitalize the Association and sports ,expect great and new innovations in Abuja”

His administrative journey has also seen him serve as the Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL).

Dr Ayo Abdulrahaman also worked in other capacities before he became the COO of the Most Important League in Nigeria (NNL) and now voted as the 1st Vice Chairman of NAPHER -SD alongside Dr. Esther Toyin Aluko.
Dr. Ali Durotoye emerged as the new chairman of the professional sports body.

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The board of Nigeria National League ( NNL) has announced a shift in date of the Super 8 earlier scheduled for May 23-30 at Enugu, the Enugu State Capital.

The competition will now be held from June 7-14, 2024 at the same venue.

Making the announcement Sunday, Chairman of the League, Mr. George Aluo said that the shift in date became necessary because of the President Federation Cup round of 32 matches which will be determined that week.

“We decided to move the Super 8 forward because the date clashed with the Federation Cup Round of 32 matches and the best thing for us to do is to align our calendar with that of the NFF.”

Aluo noted that the shift in date notwithstanding, all modalities for a successful competition has been put in place just as he commended the Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah and the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Bar. Lloyd Ekwerenmadu for accepting to host the championship.

The Super 8 is organised annually at the end of the league to determine the overall champion of the second-tier League as well as teams that will gain promotion to the elite league.

The eight teams that have already qualified for the championship are; Nasarawa Utd, Sporting Supreme of Abuja, Sokoto Utd and El-Kanemi Warriors.

Others are Beyond Limit FC, Madiba FC, Inter Lagos and Ikorodu Utd.

Meanwhile, the following teams were relegated to NLO and they’re; Stormers FC, Ekiti Utd and 1472 FC all from Conference A of the league while Giant Brillars, FC One Rocket and Tradesafe FC that campaigned in Conference B were also relegated.