NNL teams converge on Asaba for Promotion tickets

Group winners from the abridged regular season of the Nigeria National League (NNL) are in Asaba, Delta state for the Playoff to determine the four teams that will be playing in the Nigeria Premier Football League next season, www.aclsports.com reports.

The date for the playoff was announced last month with Stephen Keshi Stadium – the venue of this year’s Federation Cup final – chosen to host the big event.

Kano Pillars, DMD, Katsina United, EFCC, FC One Rocket, Sporting Lagos, Abeokuta Stormers, and Heartland FC – who were the winners of the groups (Northern and Southern Conferences) in the regular season – will battle in the Super Eight PlayOff to determine the four teams that will be promoted to the topflight – Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

Therefore, here is a cursory look at how the teams made it to the season-ending event.

NORTHERN CONFERENCE

Kano Pillars

Coach: Evans Ogenyi
Regular Season Record: P8 W6 D1 L1 – 19points
Last played in the NPFL: 2021/22 season

“Sai Masu Gida” finished top of group A3 in the Northern Conference and are on course to make a swift return to the elite division under Evans Ogenyi. The ageless Rabiu Ali is still very much around and Pillars will be relying on his experience in Asaba to complete their return to the NPFL.

Katsina United are the biggest threat in their group, but with two tickets on offer, the Kano side should do enough to earn a promotion.

Katsina United

Coach: Usman Abd’Allah
Regular Season Record: P10 W6 D3 L1 – 21points
Last played in the NPFL: 2021/22 season

Like Pillars, Katsina United last played in the topflight just last year and have been touted to make an immediate return to the top flight. As things stand, it seems that plan is well on course as they lost just a game during the regular season.

The Changi Boys have a former NPFL winner – Usman Abd’Allah – in the dugout and you expect his valuable experience to come to the fore on this occasion. Meanwhile, the Katsina club has decided to get a few additions before the Super 8 and this might just help them pick one of the tickets meant for the Conference.

DMD

Coach: Mohammed Ahmed 
Regular Season Record: P6 W3 D2 L1 – 11points
Last played in the NPFL: Nil

Doctor Mohammed Dalakwa Football Club of Maiduguri, better known as DMD, have come a long way, and here is an opportunity to play in the top flight for the very first time. They played six games during the regular season and scored just three goals en route picking the sole ticket of group A4 (Northern Conference).

They are not favourites for either of the tickets in the Northern Conference, but they could just be in there as party spoilers.

EFCC

Coach: Sani Kabiru
Regular Season Record: P10 W6 D1 L3 – 19points
Last played in the NPFL: Nil

It has been a fantastic season for the agency team. They beat Akwa United in the Federation Cup before losing out to Sunshine Stars in the round of 16. “The Eagle Eyes Boys” usurped Mightly Jets of Jos to snatch an unexpected Super 8 ticket in group A1 of the Conference.

Like DMD, EFCC are not seen as a contender for the promotion tickets, and going by how their story has gone so far this season, another upset might be on the cards in Asaba.

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE

Heartland

Coach: Christian Obi
Regular Season Record: P10 W6 D4 L0 – 22points
Last played in the NPFL: 2021/22

Heartland were superb in group B4, and went on to finish as the only unbeaten side in the division in the regular season. In addition, they also garnered the most points (22) in the regular season. The Naze Millionaires got relegated just last term and are on course for a swift promotion.

In the Conference, they are the only side with a taste of topflight football before and the only Government-owned club that has made it to the playoff. Christian Obi’s side are huge favourites to nick one of the promotion tickets.

FC ONE Rocket

Coach: Nduibusi Ndah
Regular Season Record: P10 W6 D2 L2 – 20points
Last played in the NPFL: Nil

The Akwa Ibom-based side edged former topflight sides – Goround and Warri Wolves – to win the group. The Rockets scored the most goals (17) in the regular season and are considered to be another side with a fair chance of playing in the NPFL for the first time.

One thing is certain though, at least one privately-owned club will play in the elite division next season and the Rockets will push for it to be them.

Abeokuta Stormers

Coach: Sakiru Lawal
Regular Season Record: P8 W5 D2 L1 – 17points
Last played in the NPFL: Nil

Stormers grabbed the opportunity to play in the playoff at the expense of NNL regulars Ekiti United and Madiba FC. The young side might not be favourites but the Conference looks wide open and the promotion tickets are there for the taking.

Sporting Lagos

Coach: Paul Offor
Regular Season Record: P10 W5 D3 L2 – 18points
Last played in the NPFL: Nil

It was a nervy finish to this group on the final day as Sporting needed a huge win to hold off a late challenge from Ijebu United. In the end, they managed to do it, and after last season’s fight to stay up in the second division, the Lagos Club are just three games away from gaining promotion to the elite division. What a story!

The playoff action will run from July 2 to July 7 and the teams will be grouped according to their Conferences. The top two teams from each group will play in the NPFL next season to replace the already relegated teams, while the other four will remain in the NNL for another season.