NPFL reaffirms ban on club slot sales, cites integrity and ownership rules

By Dayo Awoniyi

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has reiterated its firm stance against the sale of league slots, declaring that such practices violate the core principles of league integrity and governance.

This position was reinforced during the NPFL Annual General Meeting and official draws for the 2025/26 season, held in Abuja. Addressing media and stakeholders, NPFL Chairman Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye clarified the league’s handling of recent controversy surrounding Heartland FC’s return to the top flight.

The issue arose following the disqualification of Beyond Limits FC due to shared ownership with Remo Stars — a direct breach of NPFL regulations prohibiting one entity from owning multiple clubs in the same division.

“In this situation, Beyond Limits and Remo Stars are from the same source. We cannot allow one entity to own two clubs in the NPFL; it’s against the rules,” Elegbeleye explained.

He emphasized that the league’s intervention did not involve any financial transaction or slot purchase.

“The proprietor of Beyond Limits never mentioned money. We met with them as stakeholders, explained the situation, and they willingly agreed to step aside without argument or financial demands,” he said.

Elegbeleye further revealed that alternatives were explored, including approaches to Sporting Lagos and Gombe United — both of whom declined the offer to replace Beyond Limits. Heartland eventually accepted the opportunity, but the chairman stressed that this resolution was specific to regulatory violations, not a market-based slot transfer.

“If a similar case arises where a single entity owns two clubs, we’ll handle it the same way. But outside such circumstances, no club will be allowed to sell its slot,” he added.

Meanwhile, the NPFL officially confirmed the promotion of Wikki Tourists, Kun Khalifat, Warri Wolves, and Barau FC to the top division. Relegated from the elite tier are Lobi Stars, Akwa United, Heartland, and Sunshine Stars.

The new NPFL season kicks off on August 22, with league administrators reaffirming their commitment to transparency, compliance, and structural integrity.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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