NNL Confirms Promotion of Four Clubs to NPFL After 2025/2026 Season

The Nigeria National League (NNL) has officially announced the promotion of four clubs to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) following the conclusion of the 2025/2026 campaign.

The decision was reached during the league board’s end-of-season meeting held on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at the auditorium of Beyond Limits FC in Ikenne, Ogun State.

According to a communiqué released after the meeting, the clubs promoted to the top flight are Doma United FC, Sporting Lagos FC, Ranchers Bees FC and Inter Lagos FC.

The board also confirmed the relegation of 10 clubs to the Nationwide League One (NLO) due to poor performances during the season.

The relegated teams are Gombe United FC, Sporting Supreme FC, Mighty Jets FC, City FC, Dakkada FC, Abia Comets FC, Gateway United FC, First Bank FC, Osun United FC and Rovers FC.

In the communiqué, the NNL board expressed appreciation to Ibrahim Gusau and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board for their continued support and commitment to the growth of the league.

The board praised Gusau for his leadership and dedication to the development of Nigerian football, particularly the country’s second-tier division.

It also commended Kunle Soname for providing the facilities of Remo Stars FC in Ikenne for the successful hosting of the 2026 Super Four competition.

Furthermore, the board applauded the strong working relationship between the NNL leadership and the Nigeria National League Club Owners and Managers Association (NALCOMA), expressing confidence that the partnership would grow stronger ahead of the 2026/2027 season.

The communiqué equally acknowledged the efforts of the NFF Referees and Match Commissioners Appointment Committees for their proactive approach during the campaign, while stressing the need for further improvements.

The board proposed late July or early August 2026 for its Annual General Meeting (AGM), with the host state yet to be announced.

It also passed a vote of confidence on NNL Chairman George Aluo, commending his transparency, leadership style and contributions toward repositioning the league.

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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