Dakkada FC of Uyo has officially withdrawn from the 2025-26 NNL season following an unresolved disagreement with the League Board over their conference placement.
The Akwa Ibom-based club, which recently underwent a change in management and transitioned to private ownership, had written to the NNL requesting to be placed in Conference B — the same group that includes their city rivals, Akwa United. However, the League Board reportedly declined the request, citing the need to preserve the competitive and structural integrity of the league.
A senior source within the NNL Secretariat confirmed the development, stating that Dakkada’s withdrawal was a direct consequence of their insistence on being grouped with Akwa United.
“The team wrote to us informing that they now have new management under private ownership, which was not a problem for us,” the source revealed. “But they insisted on playing in Conference B. When we turned down the request to maintain fairness and balance in the league, they opted to pull out. The League Board has accepted their decision because we do not want anything that would undermine the credibility of the NNL.”
Dakkada’s exit comes just days after the club unveiled their new head coach, Emmanuel King, in what was initially seen as a sign of renewed ambition under their revamped management. King, who previously handled FC One Rocket in the NNL, had expressed optimism about restoring Dakkada’s competitive spirit and rebuilding the team’s identity.
“I’m here to help Dakkada FC rediscover its identity and compete with belief,” King had declared during his unveiling. “The goal is to build a winning mentality from day one.”
Read Also: Play-Offs: NFF tips Super Eagles to subdue Panthers after pay dispute
He was to be assisted by Godwin Effiong as part of the club’s new technical setup, and the team had been scheduled to open their campaign away to Beyond Limit FA in Ikenne.
Dakkada FC, formerly known as Akwa Starlets, rose from being a feeder team to Akwa United before gaining promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) in 2016. The club adopted the name “Dakkada FC” to reflect a new identity rooted in Akwa Ibom’s developmental mantra, “Dakkada,” meaning “Rise Up.”
However, after suffering relegation from the NPFL in the 2021/2022 season, the club’s fortunes continued to wane amid administrative challenges and ownership transitions.
Their withdrawal from the NNL marks a significant setback not only for Akwa Ibom football but also for the league, which now faces the task of adjusting its fixtures and addressing potential disciplinary implications.
The NNL Board is expected to issue an official statement in the coming days outlining the next steps, including possible sanctions and how Dakkada’s withdrawal will affect the 2024/2025 fixtures.