Edel FC abandon Enugu switch and confirm Awka stay for 2026-27 NNL campaign

Edel FC have shelved plans to relocate to Enugu and will instead continue to play their home matches in Awka during the 2026-27 Nigeria National League (NNL) season.

The second-tier side had been expected to move their base from Awka City Stadium to Enugu following the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign, but club officials have now confirmed the proposal has been put on hold.

Team manager Mike Chukwuebuka said the decision means the club will remain in Anambra State for at least one more season, with preparations for the new campaign set to begin next week.

“For now, we’ve put on hold all plans to move to Enugu,” Chukwuebuka told Completesports.com on Wednesday, 29 July 2026. “We’re going to play (the next season) here in Awka.”

He did not disclose the specific reasons behind the reversal, after weeks of expectation that Edel FC would relocate ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Awka to remain home base

Edel FC, owned by Phinan Ozonweke, have used Awka City Stadium as their home ground for NNL fixtures, and had been exploring a switch to Enugu as part of their long-term development strategy.

The relocation plan gathered momentum shortly after the 2025-26 season ended, when indications emerged that the club were preparing to adopt Enugu as their new base.

However, the move has now been suspended, and the club will retain Awka City Stadium for their home matches in the upcoming campaign.

Completesports.com reports that the ongoing renovation of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, which has made the ground unavailable for football activities, is understood to be a key factor behind Edel FC stepping back from the proposed move to the Coal City.

The club has not issued any formal statement on the renovation or on whether the relocation could be revisited once work on Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium is completed.

Pre-season start date confirmed

While the stadium issue remains unresolved, Chukwuebuka confirmed that the team’s pre-season schedule is already in place, with players and staff set to reconvene in early August.

“The team will regroup on Monday, August 3, when they will start preparation for the new season,” he said.

The August return will mark the beginning of Edel FC’s build-up to another NNL campaign, after securing their status in the second tier last term.

Edel FC finished sixth in Conference A with 20 points in the 2025-26 season, a position that ensured they retained their place in the NNL.

The club also enjoyed success on the domestic cup scene, with Ozonweke recently celebrating his first coaching title as Edel FC retained the Anambra FA Cup crown.

With the uncertainty over relocation temporarily settled, attention at Edel FC will now turn to strengthening the squad, fine-tuning preparations in Awka and attempting to improve on last season’s mid-table finish when the 2026-27 NNL campaign gets under way.