Go-Round Football Club of Omoku earned promotion to the top flight of Nigerian league football for the first time in their history after a 4-0 victory over relegated First Bank on Saturday. Trailing second placed Bayelsa United by a point going into the final round of matches, United’s loss at Osun United ensured Go-Round’s victory at their Kris Dera Stadium secure a deserved promotion to the top flight.
With league leaders Heartland FC confirming their promotion status after a midweek win at First Bank, Go-Round had no hesitation in delivering the decisive blow as they raced to a 3-0 first half lead against the Lagos Bankers.A further goal early in the second half and news of Chinedu Emmanuel’s second half winner for Osun United over Bayelsa United in Osogbo confirmed the promotion of the club owned by a politician in Rivers State, southern Nigeria.
Heartland on their own wrapped up the season with a 0-0 draw against Delta Force in Owerri while Papilo FC defeated AS Racines 1-0 on the same pitch moments earlier. With the second tier season concluded, both Heartland and Go Round now make up the twenty teams that will campaign in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Kwara United and Yobe Desert Stars had already promoted from the Northern Conference of the second tier Nigerian National League and the quartet will now replace the four relegated teams from the NPFL – Remo Stars, Gombe United, ABS FC and Shooting Stars.
