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

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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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Samuel Ahmadu
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.
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