By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
The 2025/26 Nigeria National League (NNL) season gets underway today, Saturday in Lafia, where FC Basira will host Mighty Jets FC of Jos in the opening fixture of the campaign.
Originally, another fixture was scheduled to kick off the new season, but the NNL Board reassigned the curtain-raiser to Lafia following venue suitability concerns at the initial host ground. The remainder of the fixtures are slated to begin on November 16.
Today’s encounter promises a competitive start to the season, with both clubs aiming to make an early statement. FC Basira will count on home support to secure maximum points, while Mighty Jets face the test of an away opener in a charged atmosphere.
Basira coach and players will look to capitalize on their familiarity with the Lafia pitch, hoping to set the tone for a strong season. The visitors, meanwhile, are expected to rely on tactical discipline and counterattacks to unsettle their hosts.
To add to the incentive, the NNL has announced a ₦56,000 reward for the winner of the opening fixture—an initiative aimed at motivating teams as Nigeria’s “Most Important League” kicks off another competitive season.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
