The final fixtures of the Nigeria National League 2024-25 regular season will be played today across nine centres with the final Super 8 ticket in the Southern Conference B officially yet to be sealed.
The relegated teams have not been totally confirmed with Igbajo United and 1472 FC the only two sides whose fate has been solved weeks ago from the Southern Conference Group A.
It is even tighter in Group B with Abakaliki FC, Godswill Akpabio FC, Gateway United, Madiba FC and First Bank FC all in danger of relegation except they get positive results in the last fixtures of the season which is difficult because some of them will be up against each other.
Battle for last Super 8 ticket will go down to the wires in Group B with the remaining seven qualifiers already known. From the Northern Conference are Barau FC, Wikki Tourists, Yobe Desert Stars and Doma United while Warri Wolves, Kun Khalifat and Crown FC are the teams that have bagged tickets to Super 8 playoffs in the Southern Conference.
Osun United are the favourites to secure the last playoff berth. They are in second spot in Group B with 33 points and have two more points better than their only challenger to the ticket, Rovers FC of Calabar who have 31 points.
Though Sporting Lagos are currently third with 32 points, they cannot finish in the top two having ended their season’s games with the 3-3 draw at Awka against Solution FC.
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Rovers will face Solution FC in Calabar knowing that they would secure the second ticket alongside Kun Khalifat if Osun United fail to beat First Bank FC and Rovers FC whitewashed visiting Solution FC. The Awka side cannot afford to throw the game away in Calabar today because they need at least a draw to really keep them in the NNL for another season.
First Bank FC needs to avoid defeat at Lanlereke Sports Complex, Ile Ogbo, Osun State against Osun United to be certain of safety but they can still pull through when with a defeat if results from other centres go in their favour.
Godswill Akpabio FC will face Gateway United today needing a home win and some favours across other centres while ABS FC with 23 points should be certain of a home win which should be enough to them in the NNL beyond this season.
Madiba FC Vs Abakaliki FC is a tough contest in Lagos. Only a win will boost Abakaliki FC’s survival chances but anything other than that will spell doom for the 2025 Federation Cup finalists.
In Group A, Abia Comets will host Edel FC. A draw should suffice for Edel FC while Dakkada FC will slug with Beyond Limits with only a win their reprieve from relegation.
Crown FC and Warri Wolves will face off in an inconsequential tie while Inter Lagos and Ijele FC will face each other with the maximum points in mind.