Real Sapphire and Ekiti United are among the 32 teams in the Nigeria Nationwide League One Promotion Playoffs set to battle it out for eight promotion tickets to the second division – Nigeria National League (NNL) this month, www.aclsports.com reports.
Following the conclusion of the regular league phase, the winners of the 32 different groups (Northern and Southern zones) have now been divided into groups of four teams based on their zones for a place in next season’s NNL campaign.
Real Sapphire, winners of the privately-run TCC League this year, cruised through the Ikorodu Centre in Lagos to emerge as one of the teams in this round. Similarly, Ekiti United secured the slot at the expense of Bendel Insurance Feeders in a stern fight at the Ijebu Ode centre. Others like Stormers FC, Ikorodu City Academy, and Lekki United, all emerged group winners across different venues in Lagos.
In terms of the groupings for the playoffs in the Southern division, Real Sapphire will face FC Ebedei, Stormers, and Joy Cometh in Ibadan at the Lekan Salami Stadium. In Ijebu Ode, Magic Stars, Okaka FC, Ikorodu City Academy, and Lekki United will be competing for one of the slots.
Ibadan-based Adeyemi FC, aiming to play in the second division for the first time, will need to edge the likes of Ekiti United, Hammola FC, and Morak FC at the FC Ebedei Stadium in Sagamu. Meanwhile, the final slot of the Southern Zone scheduled to be competed for in Port Harcourt has been suspended, pending the resolution of a disciplinary case. However, games will be played from June 12 to June 15 at the other three venues.
In the Northern zone, games will be decided at the Lafia Township Stadium, Gumel Stadium, Bwari Stadium, and the New Jos Stadium from the 19th of June to the 22nd of June.
Teams that finish at the top of the groups from the eight different venues will gain promotion to the Nigeria National League for the 2025/26 season.
