Super Eight To hold in Enugu

Club News / By

The season ending Super Eight (8) of the Nigeria National League (NNL), will be staged at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, Enugu State, Southeastern  Nigeria.

The  State government under the watch of HIS Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi “Gburugburu” endorsed the hosting of the play offs at the multi-purpose 22 ,000.00 capacity Stadium, named after the first President of the Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe .

Eight teams in the NNL will be chasing the four available tickets to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) in a five day tango starting from Tuesday 7 through to Saturday 11 September, 2021 at the Stadium nicknamed the “The Cathedral”.

Gombe United FC, El-Kanemi Warriors FC of Maiduguri, Niger Tornadoes FC, DMD FC of Borno, Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, Ekiti United and two teams from group B2 in the Southern conference, are expected to arrive the coal city on Sunday 5th September, 2021.

The draw for the play off will be conducted on Monday 6th September, 2021 with the opening ceremony and first game holding the next day.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the NNL, Distinguished Senator Obinna Ogba has praised the Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State  and the entire Enugu State government, for yielding to host the Play off.

Senator Obinna Ogba, who is as well the Chairman Senate House Committee on Sports, said the action exhibited by Governor Ugwuanyi truly shows his passion for sports and interest in developing and empowering Nigerian youths through the power of football.

“I cannot thank “Gburugburu enough, he has displayed what a great patriot he is by investing in the Nigeria project, he has sowed a huge seed in the NNL, one we will not forget in a hurry. We are eternally grateful to him and the people of Enugu State for this symbolic gesture, that is the way to go, instilling hope and confidence that we can get things done”

“This a huge support for our growing NNL, the most important domestic football League in Nigeria, it has been a very challenging season my first year in office and I know we can only get better, Ogba concluded.

This will be the second time Enugu will be playing host to NNL, the first was under late NNL Chairman Hon. Chidi Ofo-Okenwa.

League Board Commiserates With Yobe Desert Stars Over The Death Of Their Chairman

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The Management of Nigeria National League has sent its deepest condolences to the entire Management, Players, the immediate family and people of Yobe State over the shocking demise of the club Chairman and Commissioner for youths and sports development, Hon. Goni Bukar Lawan, popurlarly called “Bugon”, who died on Wednesday 3rd August, 2022.
Hon. Goni met his sudden death in a fatal auto crash along Kano – Damaturu express way.
Chief Operating Officer, Nigeria National League, Mr. Emmanuel Adesanya, struck by the sad news described it as a big loss to the football family but went philosophical when said “We surely belong to God and to Him we shall return”
Adesanya prayed God to grant the deceased jannatul firdaus (Heavenly paradise), forgive his sins and make his grave a place of comfort and light. Ameen.
Late Honourable Goni Bukar Lawan was a two time former member House of Representatives, Chairman house Committee on Sports and Vice Chairman Nigeria National League Club Owners Association (NALCOMA).
Honourable Bugon who is survived by his two wives and children has since been buried according to Islamic rites.

NNL Rearrange Matches For Sallah

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The Nigeria National League NNL, has again reiterated the urgent need for proper security and monitoring to be instituted at all its match venues in the current 2021/2022 season as the league resumes after a temporary break last weekend.
Matches will resume Wednesday 13th July, 2022 instead of Saturday 9th July as earlier envisaged after last weekend fixtures were put on hold following the need to tidy various concerns developing as the season gradually winds to a halt.
Unpleasant security issues almost took the shine off the league in some Centre’s recently and the Nigeria National League, in its bid to curb the disturbing trend, wrote to all its forty six (46) teams not to take security lying low.
NNL hinted that only adequate and effective operatives can guarantee safety of lives of match officials ,players ,coaches and everyone at all times at designated stadia.
The games were again shifted to allow the Islamic faithful’s celebrate Eid-al- Adha, the biggest festival in the history of Islam as a religion, which comes up globally on the weekend of Saturday, the 9th July, 2022
Nevertheless, rescheduled games will still hold Wednesday 6th July, 2022 in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Edo State.
Anti–graft side, EFCC FC will host City Football club of Abuja in a group A1 match Day Fifteen (15) fixture at the Area 3 playground, Garki while Group B1 leaders, Bendel Insurance FC face 2nd place Gateway United FC at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.
The NNL further stated that details of security measures taken by the home teams and State Football Associations ahead of the remaining games must be transmitted to it after also notifying the State Police Commissioners.
The last set of matches in the four abridged groups in the North and South have consequently been slightly adjusted following the latest development .
Clubs have been admonished to be properly guided as the games are held as scheduled.

Go-Round FC To Play Without their Fans, Fined One Million Naira For Pitch Invasion

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Following incessant incidents of pitch invasion by fans and management of Go-Round football club, Omoku, the latest being in the match day sixteen game against Rovers of Calabar in Omoku, The Nigeria National League has ruled that Go-Round will play their remaining five home fixtures under a strictly controlled atmosphere without their fans at the Krisdera Stadium.

The league body viewed the latest field encroachment by Go-Round as the “Worst case scenario and a huge shame to football stakeholders”.

For breaching the rule book, NNL therefore charged Go-Round accordingly to play under closed doors, meaning that their matches with Crown FC, Apex Krane, Warri Wolves, Cynosure FC and Sporting Lagos will be played under lock and keys.

In addition to playing their matches without their fans, Go-Round are to pay the sum of N 1million (One Million Naira) as fine for pitch invasion and inability to provide adequate and effective security on their home soil for the day sixteen encounter.

The NNL further issued Go-Round a final warning order (FWO) that any form of violence, assault of match officials and sundry exhibition of breach of peace and security at the venue of their home matches will attract stiffer sanctions in the future.

Chiebuka Uzoho Of Campos FA Summoned For Unruly Conduct

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Nigeria National League has invited Uzoho Chiebuka of Campos Football Academy of Owerri, to unfailingly testify at a hearing on Thursday 24th May, 2022 about a video evidence it received which showed him clearly assaulting the center referee Anthony Ogar in match day thirteen of the Southern Conference B1 involving his club and Vandrezzer FC of Lagos, decided at the memorial Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.

The player was seen leading a swat move of his team mates to assault the center referee Anthony Ogar in a fixture that ended 2-1 in favour of Vandrezzer FC .

Uzoho Chiebuka is to appear alongside the club’s secretary Mr.Dozie Onwuzurike before the Compliance Unit of Nigeria National League, eleven 0’Clock in the morning, at the NNL secretariat, Wuse zone 7, Abuja.

NNL Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Adesanya  said  the league body is more than determined to stem such development ,noted that the disciplinary procedure opened is designed to give the player in question a fair hearing before  the Compliant Unit of NNL make pronouncements on the  behavior of the play

Benin City To Host NNL Annual General Meeting Ahead Of The New Season

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The ancient city of Benin, Edo State capital will host the traditional preseason annual general meeting (AGA) that will herald the 2021-2022 Nigeria National League season, in December, 2021

His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki and his cabinet has graciously approved that the Heartbeat of the Nation play host to the much awaited season’s precursor for the Nigeria’s most important league.

The AGA will be preceded by a special RETREAT strategically designed to update club team managers, secretaries and coaches on fresh methods and applications as regarding club licensing, management and others.

The retreat has been scheduled to hold on Thursday 9th December, 2021, with team managers, secretaries and coaches in attendance while, the AGA with only the presidents of the 46 clubs in the NNL holds the next day, Friday 10th December, 2021.

The AGA will provide the needed platform for the clubs to ratify the new rules and regulations of NNL for the fresh calendar of the league, and will also afford the NNL time to authenticate which of the clubs are equipped enough accordingly to feature in the league.

NNL before now handed each club a copy of the rule book as amended for the new period of the league and expects clubs to make inputs at the AGA .

A strong team of lawyers led by NNL Chief Executive Officer ,barrister Sajo Mohammed  and football experts drawn from across board were brought together by the management of the NNL to review the rules and regulations of the past season, this is with a view to ensure better prospects for the league .

Accredited participants for the AGA and Retreat are expected to arrive Benin –City Wednesday 8th December, 2021 and would depart the historic city on the 11th.

NNL Demands Fitting Venues From Clubs Ahead Of The 2021/2022 Season

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Nigeria National League is doing everything possible to ensure its matches in the coming season will be played at venues that meet certain range of criteria because of the largest positive impact for the quality of the League.

Clubs wishing to participate in the 2021/2022 league season have been mandated to submit their choice of stadium to host their games for the period on or before Thursday 18th of November, 2021.

Inspection of stadium and facilities the clubs intend use for the season has been schedule to commence anytime soon and compliance with the directives by the forty six clubs will help for timely decisions by the Nigeria National League to grant approval or otherwise .

Chief Operating Officer of the most important league, Mr. Emmanuel Adesanya said clubs must take into account the critical conditions which have already been sent to them, before approval will be given to such venues to host any league game.

One of such is a strong availability of chain internet facilities in a broadcast friendly environment that will enable live transmission of matches.

Adesanya emphasized that the league body will not compromise any of the provisions in stadiums regulations before authorizing such venue /facility to host its matches in the new season.

Niger Tornadoes, 3SC of Ibadan And Giant Brillars, Cart Away Top Prizes At NNL Super Eight*.

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Newly crowned Nigeria National League Champions Niger Tornadoes of Minna, runners up Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan and Giant Brillars of Enugu dominated the awards, as the curtains fell on the 2021 NNL Super Eight, in Enugu .

Aside from been crowned as Champions of the 2020/20212 NNL season which officially ended on Sunday, Niger Tornadoes manager, Abubakar Bala Mohammed emerged the best coach of the season, after his side edged 3SC of Ibadan 3-2 in a pulsating final decided at the Cathedral, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

The Ikon Allah Boys and Gombe United both finished with 5 points, in the Northern conference Group, but Tornadoes had a superior goals difference of plus 2, wereas Gombe United had plus one.

3SC who won the Southern conference Group and ended in second place overall, scooped two other prizes as their striker Olafimihan Gafar was voted the (MVP) Most Valuable Player and the Best Striker of the season.

The double award winner banged in sixteen (16) goals during the regular season and three (3) at the Super Eight playoffs.

Gafar had two braces and double hat-trick in the season against Rovers of Calabar and FC Nilayo.

Their Shot stopper, Charles Tambe who is a Camerounian, went home with the best goalkeeper award, after keeping several clean sheets and making numerous saves during the regular season and Super eight.

Giant Brillars of Enugu finished 9th in the Group B1 table of the NNL Southern Conference in the regular season. The team under the tutelage of former Nigerian International, Nduka Ugbade were rewarded with the Fair Play Award, reserved for the best behaved team, following their good conducts on and off the pitch of play.

Delighted at the development for his young squad, Coach Ugbade said the award will further encouraged Giant Brillars.

According to Captain of the FIFA/Kodak Under-16 World Cup winning Captain, Giant Brillars exhibited very positive attitudes all through the season to earn the award he said is deserving.

*Past NNL Champions in the last five seasons*.

2021 – Niger Tornadoes

2019 – Akwa Starlets

2018 – Kada City

2017 – Go-Round

2016 – Gombe United .

…………………………….

Meanwhile, Niger Tornadoes, Gombe United, Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan and Remo Stars picked the four available promotion tickets from the NNL to the Nigeria Professional football league (NPFL).

They will replace the quartet of Adamawa United, FC Ifeanyiubah, Jigawa Golden Stars and Warri Wolves who were relegated from the NPFL to the NNL.

Enugu State Government, Federal Ministry of Sports And Baba Ijebu Commended For Supporting NNL

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The Nigeria National League (NNL) has heaped tons of praises on the Enugu State government, headed by His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi “Gburugburu” and the Hon. Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare for the leverage they gave its just concluded 2020/2021 league season. NNL Chairman, Senator Obinna Ogba while thanking the Enugu State Governor, and the entire members of his cabinet for hosting the Super Eight and promotion Playoffs said having the games staged in Enugu was timely and provided enormous relief for the nation’s most important league (NNL). “We cannot thank the governor who happens to also be my brother enough, his executives and the whole people of Enugu State for lending their support to us, it came at the nick of time and we will remain grateful to them”. It is on record that in 2019 the Enugu State government also hosted the then NNL Super four. Similarly, Senator Ogba lauded the Minister of Youth and Sports Development Chief Sunday Dare who made record, as the first sitting Sports Minister to attended the Season-ending tournament. “It was a great gesture from the number one sports administrator of the country, the physical presence of the Minister was immense and a huge morale booster, we are indeed encouraged for his sterling appearance at the Super Eight, thank you honorable Minister for the show of solidarity”. Senator Ogba also had some words of thank you to the Nigeria Football Federation under the leadership of Amaju Pinnick.“I will not fail to salute the Nigeria Football Federation, which I also belong to, as a member of the board, they all came here and even those who could not make it to Enugu showed their unequivocal support. “This goes a long way in underlining the fact that we are one United family and I’m pleased to note that it was evident from near and far “.Premier Lotto Limited (PLL) popularly known as “Baba Ijebu” one of Nigeria’s gaming company was not left without a glowing thanks by Senator Ogba for strongly backing NNL from the start of the season. Senator Ogba sprinkled praises on the management team of Lotto, that has over forty years combined experience in the gaming industry and has been able to leverage on such to develop, sustain and strengthen the business over the years to provide one of the biggest lotto practice in Africa. Premier Lotto currently has one of the biggest lotto practices in Nigeria operating with over 200 principal agents supervising over 16,000 sub agents/sales representatives spread across the western region of Nigeria. The company’s ability to pay winnings consistently has made her the leader in the gaming industry.The NNL Boss ended his speech with a promise to take positives from any shortcomings in the course of the just concluded season, with a view to improving on them ahead of a better and bomper NNL in the coming 2021/2022 season. “We had some drawbacks which prolonged the duration of last season, we want to put all that behind as we look forward to a new season “”We hope to have an improved new season, and taking stock is our way of jump starting preparations for the upcoming NNL Season”

Zamfara United FC Given Ultimatum On Rescheduled Game Against Malumfashi FC

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Northern Conference Group A2 campaigners, Zamfara United Football Club of Gusau, Zamfara State have  been mandated by the Nigeria National League (NNL) to without failure ensure they honour the week one match with Malumfashi Football Club of Katsina

The match, the first in the 2020/2021 season was not played as fixed following the late arrival of match officials, which prompted a shift to the next day before time of the match became an issue by both teams.

The NNL had waded into the matter and Zamfara  FC wrote requesting a two weeks grace to play the match which was granted them and went on to reschedule the match for Thursday 29 July, 2021.

Shockingly, Zamfara United FC again, in a fresh correspondence requested for the match yet again, to be moved further, less than 48 hours to the game.

NNL therefore, has firmly communicated the management of Zamfara United Football to as a matter of importance; comply with the strong directive to avoid the match not holding as fixed for Thursday 29 July, 2021.

The game will hold at the approved Arena in Malumfashi, the Township Stadium, Katsina State.

The NNL has further urged the Katsina State Football Association, the home team – Malumfashi Football club and away team – Zamfara United  FC to guarantee the match been played strictly under CLOSED DOORS, with FULL observation of Covid-19 Protocols.

NNL wants the clubs to NOTE that necessary logistics have been put together for the successful hosting and organization of the delayed match.

The match which is long overdue and the week 17 game involving , Malumfashi versus Kogi United with the Nigeria Football Federation’s  Organizing and Disciplinary Committee (O&D) has stucked  the conclusion of matches in the group for the season.

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