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Tag: Nigeria National League (NNL)

  • Ndukwu claims IMO SWAN  Heartland’s best player for November

    Ndukwu claims IMO SWAN  Heartland’s best player for November

    The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Imo State Chapter, has  announced Murphy Ndukwu as the Imo SWAN Heartland Player of the Month for November, following his outstanding performances for the club in the ongoing Nigeria National League (NNL) campaign.

    In a historic moment for both the club and the association, Ndukwu becomes the first Heartland FC player to win the monthly award this season, continuing the positive momentum in the second season of the partnership between Imo SWAN and the Owerri side.

    In a press statement signed by the scribe of Imo SWAN, Tunde Liadi, Ndukwu secured the award through a transparent voting process by Imo SWAN members, earning the highest number of votes for the month ahead of equally impressive Uchenna Odeh and Melody Idase.

    The Naze Millionaires winger delivered a standout performance in Heartland’s season-opening home win against Edel FC, scoring the club’s first goal of the campaign after just 45 seconds—a moment that set the tone for the Owerri side.

    He later provided the assist for the second goal, further underlining his value and influence in the attacking department. Ndukwu also posted commendable performances against Crown FC and Gateway FC.

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    Despite the Owerri side’s frontline showing signs of underperformance in their first three games, Ndukwu has remained the most positive spark, demonstrating quality, consistency, and hunger that gives confidence for improvement as the season progresses.

    Reacting to Ndukwu’s emergence as the winner, the Chairman of Imo SWAN, Cosmos Chukwuemeka, praised the player’s brilliance and commitment:

     “Murphy has been a bright light for the Naze Millionaires so far. His early goal and assist in the opening game lifted the team and gave fans something to cheer about. This award is well-deserved, and we hope it motivates not just him but the entire squad to push harder in the coming fixtures. Our partnership with Heartland FC continues to grow stronger, and recognitions like this are part of our commitment to encouraging excellence.”

    The Imo State Chapter of SWAN congratulates Ndukwu, our Heartland Player of the Month for November, and encourages him to continue leading by example as the Scientific Boys pursues a successful NNL campaign.

    The former Enyimba winger will receive the recognition on Saturday during the club’s home game against Inter Lagos in a Matchday 4 tie.

  • NNL to hold next AGM Sept. 10th  in Kaduna

    NNL to hold next AGM Sept. 10th  in Kaduna

    The Nigeria National League (NNL) has officially confirmed September 10th for  its 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) to  be held in Kaduna following conclusion of all arrangements with the Kaduna State Government.

    According to a statement released by the league’s Media and Communications Department, the high-level meeting is scheduled to take place at the prestigious Fifth Chukker Resort, located at KM2 Kaduna-Jos Road, Maraba, Kaduna.

    Delegates are expected to arrive on Tuesday, 9th  September while the AGM will hold the following day, Wednesday, 10th  September starting promptly at 10:00 AM.

    The AGM serves as a major event in the NNL calendar, providing an opportunity for club leaders to engage in strategic discussions, review the previous season, and set objectives for the upcoming campaign. A total of 36 clubs from both the Northern and Southern Conferences of the league are expected to attend.

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    Some of the clubs listed among the expected participants include ABS FC, Yobe Desert Stars, Sokoto United, Kada Warriors, Abia Comets, Heartland FC, Akwa United, Sunshine Stars, Osun United, and Beyond Limits, among others.

    In a move to ensure the quality and integrity of deliberations, the NNL has mandated that only the highest-ranking officials — specifically Club Chairmen or General Managers — are permitted to attend. The league stressed that representatives or proxies will not be accepted under any circumstances. This policy aims to enhance direct engagement and ensure effective decision-making among the club leadership.

    The NNL expressed gratitude to the Kaduna State Government and the management of Fifth Chukker Resort for their collaboration and support in hosting the important gathering.

    The league concluded by expressing optimism that the AGM will be a productive exercise, contributing to the continued development and strength of Nigeria’s most competitive football division.

  • NPFL:  Moment of truth as Heartland, Tornadoes , others battle for survival

    NPFL:  Moment of truth as Heartland, Tornadoes , others battle for survival

    There is a five horse race to  survive the relegation with two certainly  to drop to the lower league, in what  should be an  interesting battle, TUNDE LIADI here predict  the likely outcome at the lower end of the table  as well as the battle for  slots for CAF inter club competitions.

    With the race for the three teams to represent Nigeria in the CAF Inter club championships already settled, attention will shift to the lower part of the league where five teams are still in the  battle to avoid the drop  to the second tier, Nigeria National League (NNL).

    Sunshine Stars confirmed their relegation ticket in the last game against Niger Tornadoes whom they lost to 2-1 in Ijebu Ode while Lobi Stars’ lower league place had been long sealed.

     Niger Tornadoes (48pts), Katsina United (47pts), El Kanemi Warriors (46pts), Heartland (45pts) and Akwa United (44pts) are all locked in fisticuffs for the remaining two slots to the lower league.

    The star game of the weekend fixtures should have been Ikorodu City and Abia Warriors clash had Remo Stars not beaten the Oga Boys on their coronation day  but that defeat meant Abia Warriors cannot finish lower than the third spot even if Ikorodu City beat them by cricket goals tomorrow  in Lagos.

    But a win will ensure Nurudeen Aweroro’s boys lock the fourth spot while a draw could open the way for Enyimba to leapfrog them if they beat Plateau United in Aba also on Sunday.

    With that settled, Heartland  versus  Akwa United tie should be next in line for the game of the week with both teams in the 17th  and 18th  spots in the table going into the final fixtures of the season.

    Heartland must beat Akwa United while hoping that either of Tornadoes, Katsina United and El Kanemi Warriors falter in their home games with Kano Pillars, Kwara United and Sunshine Stars to open an escape route for them.

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     For the Promise Keepers, they must beat Heartland in Owerri and also pray that Katsina United is beaten at home and El Kanemi Warriors is held by already relegated Sunshine Stars in Maiduguri.

    Katsina United was thrashed 4-0 by Rangers International FC but they must beat Kwara United to ensure they are safe from relegation but a draw could be fatal especially if Heartland secure a home win against Akwa United.

    Lobi Stars will host fifth spot Bendel Insurance in an inconsequential game while second placed Rivers United with 61 points will seal CAF Champions League ticket with a win at home to Nasarawa United. But Abia Warriors may usurp them to the ticket if Finidi George’s boys fail to beat the Solid Miners and Umuchineke Boys steal a win in Lagos against Ikorodu City.

    Tornadoes versus Kano Pillars is another top drawer but Ikon Allah Boys had most of their worries settled when they beat Sunshine Stars and will go into the fixture knowing that a draw against Sai Masu Gida will just be enough to grant them Premier league safety.

    Bayelsa United will lock horns with Remo Stars in another game that will offer little to both teams positions in the league table while Shooting Stars will hope to end the season with a flourish when they host Rangers International FC who are the deposed league champions.

    Enyimba will host Plateau United in Aba with a guarantee to finish above the sixth spot if results from other centres favour them.

  • NFF  hails Aluo over transformation of NNL   

    NFF  hails Aluo over transformation of NNL   

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has expressed his satisfaction with the leadership of the board of the Nigeria National League (NNL), following the board’s seamless organization of the country’s second tier league

    The NFF president, who was represented at the NNL Monthly Awards ceremony in Abuja by the federation’s 1st Vice President Felix Anyansi Agwu, said the NNL   has taken a new shape with giant and commendable strides since George Aluo’s emergence as its chairman.

    He noted  that the newly introduced monthly awards has given the league a greater face and made it more competitive as all actors, including players, coaches, referees and managers alike not only compete to be recognized and selected but ensure a transparent management and smooth flow of the league.

    The NNL chairman,  Aluo had in his opening remarks  noted that the awards recipients including players, coaches and clubs have shown enormous strength in projecting the image of the NNL, adding that the awards is therefore designed to reward those who have performed exceptionally well in the month under review.

    He expressed the board’s appreciation to  the NFF President for being very supportive for  all the achievements recorded by the NNL board in the ongoing league season.

    Aluo further highlighted the strength and quality of the second tier league, stating that the strong performances of the clubs in the league have similarly been replicated in the big victories the NNL clubs have recorded in the on-going President Federations Cup where NNL teams are upstaging their  counterparts from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

    He said: “Exceptional achievements are within our reach when we stand tall on a foundation of personal integrity, hard work and unwavering determination.

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    “Success is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, and skillful execution,” he said. “Today, I feel very privileged and honoured to stand here in front of you all and acknowledge the achievements of our brilliant Football Players, Team Officials, outstanding Team and outstanding arbiters for the Month of February, 2025  who have made themselves, their parents and their clubs proud.”

    The NNL chairman noted further that the awards program is held ‘to recognize the young talents who have made an immense contribution to our noble League “the most important League in Nigeria’, adding that the brilliant athletes exhibit such qualities that will not only help them in achieving their goals, but also bring glory of success to their football clubs and organizations.

    “Today, we have gathered here not just to celebrate the achievements of our players, but also to give due regard to our values and morals which these awardees exemplify, like discipline, compassion and zeal for learning.”

    He explained that the awards are a way to encourage good performances, good behavior and inculcate competitive spirit, stressing  that such practices informed the Nigeria National League (NNL) alongside its partners, organize monthly award ceremony to encourage  outstanding footballers, officials and referees.

    “So we are here to give away the awards in mainly seven categories; the best behaved Team, the best coach, the Best Goalkeeper, best Goal of the month, Highest Goal Scorer, Most Valuable Player and Best Referee,” he noted.

  • Akanji outlines potential gains of NNL Pre-Season seminar

    Akanji outlines potential gains of NNL Pre-Season seminar

    One of the resource persons for the forthcoming Nigeria National League (NNL) Pre-season seminar, John Joshua-Akanji, has declared that the session will adequately equip the participants ahead of the beginning of the 2024/2025  season.

    Akanji, a veteran journalist and former media aide former Sports Minister, Sunday Dare,   is  among a list of  senior journalists that will tutor  media officers at the seminar expected to kick off on Monday, October, 28 at Remo Stars Complex, Ikenne, Ogun State.

    According to him, the successes recorded in the league last season could be attributed to the seminar held at the same venue, noting such tutorial is needed in order to upscale the knowledge of the coaches and team media officers.

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    ” I want to commend the NNL board under the chairmanship of Mr. George Aluo for their initiative in introducing the seminar,” Akanji said.”The maiden edition was a very huge success which contributed to the seamless league they had last season and I believe that this year’s edition will even be more successful because of the calibre of resource persons that will handle the seminar,”

    Akanji was particularly happy that the league board went beyond limiting the seminar to the coaches since he believes media officers are critical stakeholders because the reports they send out can have either positive or negative effect on the league.

  • Aluo predicts  better  future  for NNL ahead of new season

    Aluo predicts  better  future  for NNL ahead of new season

    Nigeria National League (NNL) Chairman, George Aluo, has affirmed his board determination  to consolidate on the gains of last season to  ensure improvement in the forthcoming 2024-25 season.

    Speaking with NationSport, Aluo  said it was a general consensus that the 2023-24 season was the best season in the annals of the domestic second-tier  league , adding the NNL board has put several things in place to ensure  that this coming could be refreshingly better.

    Further explained  that He  NNL board  was  working round the clock to ensure the season produces a worthy winner  as well as formidable representatives of the league  after gaining promotion to the elite  Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

    ” Last season was n wonderful and everyone acknowledged it as the best in the history of Nigeria National League,”  the  seasoned journalist turned administrator told NationSport.“We completely changed the face of the league and it is why a club like Beyond Limits which is a team of young players, was able to win the Super 8 Play-Off in Enugu.

    “We created a level playing field for everybody and we had teams winning games away from home and we were happy with the way the league ended last season.

    “ We can only take it one step higher because we have rebranded the league and have brought in so many innovations ahead of the new season.”

    Aluo further stressed that the NNL will organise classroom sessions for the coaches and media officers in the division  between  November 28th and  30th  in order to create better  synergy between the NNL and the coaches and the media.

    “We inculcated a winning mentality into the coaches of all teams that came for our preseason seminar that took place in Ogun State last season,” he further said. “This year, we have decided to equally take the coaches back to the classroom and take the media officers of the teams to the classrooms also so that they too can clearly understand their roles and what they can do to help us continue to rebrand the league.

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    “So, from the November 28th  to 30th  we will take the coaches and the media officers back to the classrooms so that we will build a synergy between the NNL and the media. “

    Aluo has  also assured  that officiating  match officials would be taken care of and that their match indemnities may be jerk up  though subject to the approval of the NNL board and all other things being equal.

    He noted: “Our  officiating officials would be taken care of. We succeeded last season in paying all the match officials from the start of the season to its end and we intend to do that in the 2024-25 season as well.

    “ We equally understand that things have gone up in terms of transportation and otherwise. We will do all within our powers to make the match officials as comfortable as possible.

    “The NNL board will also ensure that Nigerians are able to watch the game’s if not through conventional television but would be streamed live by clubs on different platforms.

    “We want to play a league where teams can go to any ground to win and we want a season that will be violent free.

    “We also want to play a league where the eventual champions would be worthy winner just like we did last  season,” he affirmed.

  • NNL board to hold AGM later in September 

    NNL board to hold AGM later in September 

    The board of the Nigeria National League (NNL) has stated that its Annual General Meeting (AGM) which ushers in a date for the start of the league season among other activities of the organisers would be held later in the month at a venue and date to be communicated soon.

    The NNL board in a virtual meeting held yesterday also confirmed that to give all the participating clubs level playing field that it has also resolved to ensure that all the conferences have the same number of teams unlike the previous seasons.

    The NNL board under the supervision of seasoned journalist, George Aluo also re-emphasised its implicit trust in the concerted efforts of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board to ensure that the Super Eagles qualify for both the 2025 African Cup of Nations as well as 2026 World Cup.

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    The communiqué reads: “The board appreciated the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau for providing a level playing ground for the league to thrive.

    “The board expressed implicit confidence in the genuine efforts of the NFF board to ensure that the Super Eagles qualifies for the 2025 African Cup of Nations as well as 2026 World Cup.

    “The NNL board resolved that the usual Annual General Meeting of the Clubs in the NNL will hold this September on a date and venue that will be announced later.

    “The board resolved that there will be equal number of teams in the conferences for the 2024/2025 league season.”

  • Obaseki fetes Bendel Insurance, tasks team on NPFL title

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has celebrated Bendel Insurance Football Club for qualifying to the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), charging the team to give account of themselves in the topflight division.

    Bendel Insurance qualified to the NPFL after picking maximum 9 points at the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 Playoffs, ending 11 years relegation.

    The governor who hosted the victorious team at Government House, said the team has lived up to the challenge thrown at them at the unveiling of the re-branded club in 2018.

    He charged the team to ensure that they put in their best to win the Premier League.

    “I am happy for this new year’s present you have given me and the state. Nothing can be better than this. I asked you to do your best and be promoted to NPFL, that you have achieved. For this feat and victory, I will give you N25 million.”

    “The supporters’ club will get N5 million for doing a great job supporting the club all the way to victory,” Obaseki said.

    The governor promised that in addition to the cash gifts, the team will get a new bus, while the supporters’ club will get one as well, noting, “These buses will provide comfort to the club and the supporters whenever they are traveling for matches.”

    Obaseki, who rejected award giving to him by the Edo State Football Federation, said, as governor, he doesn’t receive awards.

    “I don’t receive reward for now, your award can’t be an exception. I will not receive it but will only receive it from you when you win the Nigeria Premier League this season.”

    Earlier, the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, who presented the players of the team to the governor, said that they were in Government House to inform the governor that they have fulfilled the mandate he gave them.

    “You asked us to go to Aba to conquer and we went there and have achieved that feat by winning our three matches. We have gone around Benin City with the victorious boys and they have been appreciated by the people of the state,” Shaibu said.

    He urged for support for the team to spur them to win the NPFL, which is the new target given to them by the governor.

    The team’s coach, Monday Odigie, thanked the governor and his deputy for the great support and encouragement, adding, “We thank Edo State Government, the players, fans and the media for this great feat. We will do our best to win the NPFL.”

  • WAFU finals: NNL official predicts victory for Nigeria

    WAFU finals: NNL official predicts victory for Nigeria

    Mr Lawrence Katken, Nigeria National League (NNL) official, on Saturday, predicted victory for home-based Super Eagles over their Ghanaian counterparts in the West African Football Union (WAFU) finals on Sept. 24.

    Katken made the prediction in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja while speaking on Nigeria’s expectations on the final match.

    He said that Nigeria’s performance at the ongoing West African football Union (WAFU) tournament was a pointer to their lifting the trophy.

    The NNL official, who expressed optimism in the ability of the CHAN Eagles to defeat Ghana, said bringing the cup home was non-negotiable.

    “Nigeria has beaten Ghana in their last group matches, not just beating but with comfortable 2-0.

    “Unless the boys either lose focus or are over confident, they have everything and reason to beat Ghana,” he said.

    Katken urged the team to repeat their feat over Ghana to validate their superiority in West African football.

    Nigerian home-based super Eagles would slug it with Ghana in the WAFU finals in Cape Coast on Sunday, Sept. 24.

    The host Ghana defeated Niger Republic 2-0 to scale through to finals, while Nigeria beat Benin 1-0 in the semifinals.

  • Premiership league is our goal – NAF FC

    Premiership league is our goal – NAF FC

    The Team Manager of Nigeria Air Force,  NAF  FC, Yakubu Sadiq, says the team is determined to actualise its ambition to play in Nigeria Premiership Football League ( NPFL ) next season.

    Sadiq told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja that his team would work hard to gain promotion to NPFL.

    He said the management would continue to work with the team to attain higher heights.

    “We are happy that we are now back to Nigeria National League ( NNL ), having been there before relegation.

    “Our main target now is to go to NPFL where we shall show the best in us in order to rise to continental level.”

    Sadiq, who expressed confidence in the efficiency of his team, called for support from his fans.

    He noted that NAF FC promotion from Nation-wide League to NNL was as a result of hard work and dedication.

    According to him, “we shall do more in order to stay alive in the NNL for the ultimate NPFL.’’