By Dayo Awoniyi
Wikki Tourists and Barau FC have secured promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) following commanding performances in the ongoing Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 playoffs.
Wikki Tourists booked their return to the top flight with a dominant 4–0 victory over Yobe Desert Stars in their final Group A match in Asaba.
The Bauchi-based club showcased their experience and attacking strength to seal a place in the 2025/26 NPFL season.
Barau FC, meanwhile, made history by earning their first-ever promotion to the NPFL. The Kano-based side defeated Doma United 2–0 in Ozoro to confirm their spot among Nigeria’s elite clubs.
The two teams are now guaranteed places in the next NPFL season, with two more promotion slots still to be decided.
Their success narrows the list of available spots in the top flight and raises the stakes for the remaining fixtures.
Wikki Tourists return to the NPFL after a brief spell in the lower division, while Barau FC’s rise represents a landmark achievement in the club’s development.
The Super 8 continues today, with other contenders vying for the final two promotion tickets. The top two teams from each group will advance to the NPFL.
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.
