The highly controversial Nigerian National League (NNL) top-of-the-table clash between Insurance of Benin and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan has now been scheduled for Sunday, November 4, 2018 in Benin.
The two traditional teams were scheduled to meet last Saturday, October 27 at the University of Benin Sports Complex but the hosts wrote to the league body, asking for postponement due to non-availability of the facility, prompting the game to be moved to Wednesday, October 31.
However, the midweek date failed to see the light of the day after over twenty players of the visiting side Shooting Stars reportedly fell victim of Food Poisoning, necessitating an indefinite postponement by the league body.
The NNL Board have now rescheduled the game for Sunday, November 4, 2018 at the same venue. The body in a letter circulated to the club’s also issued dates for the simultaneous completion of league games in Group B1.
The final round of matches in the NNL B1 has now been scheduled for next Wednesday, November 7, 2018. Shooting Stars currently lead the group with twenty eight points from fifteen matches, two points ahead of Insurance who have twenty-six points but with one game in hand.
Uncertainties still surround the promotion format of the NNL. The top two teams in each group were touted to meet in a season-ending Super Eight tournament so as to determine the four promoted teams but it is being rumoured that the idea may be jettisoned for the table toppers to earn automatic promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
