By Saheed Afolabi
Ahead of the new Nigeria National League (NNL) season, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Ayo Abdulrahman has issued a strong warning to clubs about the importance of adhering to league regulations.
The second-tier league is set to kick off on Saturday, November 30, and Abdulrahman has called on all participating clubs to fully support the league’s operations to ensure a smooth and successful season.
In his statement, the NNL COO emphasized that the league’s rules and guidelines have already been communicated to the clubs, and it is crucial that they remain informed and compliant throughout the campaign.
Abdulrahman highlighted that the league has provided clear procedures for clubs to follow, including designated channels for addressing complaints and resolving issues.
“We intend to run a better season this time, and we cannot achieve this without the clubs joining hands with us. We seek maximum support from the clubs as we serve them,” Abdulrahman told NNL website.
“The rules have been packaged and sent to the clubs, and they must keep themselves abreast of it. The rules provide many options, including how to channel complaints in troubling situations.”
Last season, Beyond Limits, Nasarawa United, Ikorodu City, and El Kanemi Warriors secured promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) from the NNL, and Abdulrahman is hopeful that this season will see even greater success, provided the clubs follow the league’s regulations and guidelines.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
