Nigeria Leagues
NNL bars indebted Akwa United, Heartland, others from 2025/26 season registration

By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
The Nigeria National League (NNL) has announced that clubs with outstanding financial obligations, including Akwa United, Heartland FC and several others, will be barred from registering for the 2025/2026 season.
In a circular dated September 9, 2025 signed by Chief Operating Officer Danlami Alanana, the league emphasized that any club failing to settle debts owed to players, coaches, or administrators will not receive clearance to participate.
The affected clubs include former NPFL champions Akwa United as well as Heartland FC, Gombe United, Lobi Stars and Sunshine Stars, all of whom were recently relegated from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
“Clubs indebted to players, coaches, and administrators with cases adjudicated by the NFF Players Status and Arbitration Committee must comply with the committee’s decisions. Compliance is mandatory before clubs will be allowed to register,” the circular read.
The NNL clarified that registration will only be approved once these clubs provide verifiable proof of compliance with rulings issued by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Players Status and Arbitration Committee (PSAC).
According to the league, the measure is designed to safeguard the welfare of players and officials while promoting professionalism and financial discipline throughout the league.
Clubs that fail to comply risk exclusion from league activities, a sanction that could significantly affect both their competitive and commercial standing.
By implementing this policy, the NNL reaffirms its commitment to integrity and accountability within Nigeria’s second-tier league.
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