Nigeria National League

9°1′47.8″N 7°26′51.4″E

Nigerian National League
Founded1979 (reorganized 1991)
CountryNigeria
ConfederationCAF
Number of teams46
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toNigerian Professional Football League
Relegation toNigeria Nationwide League
Domestic cup(s)Nigerian FA Cup
Nigerian Super Cup
International cup(s)CAF Confederation Cup (via Nigerian FA Cup)
Current championsHeartland F.C.
(2022–23)
Most championshipsDolphins/Eagle Cement (3 titles)
Current: 2022-23 Nigerian National League

The Nigerian National League (formerly known as National Division 1)

The Nigerian National League shortly known as the NNL in Nigeria and is the second-highest overall in the Nigerian football league system after the Nigeria Professional Football League, and is currently contested by 46 clubs.

Each season, four teams are promoted to the Nigeria Professional Football League, via NNL Super 4/NNL Super 8. The twelve lowest-finishing teams in the Nigerian National League are relegated to Nigeria Nationwide League.

History

From 1997-2011, the league has been split into 1A for Northern teams and 1B for southern teams. The top two from each division are promoted to the Nigerian Premier League the next season. The exceptions were the 2005–06 and 2006-07 seasons where there were four divisions of eight teams each, with each division winner winning promotion. Up to four teams in each division are relegated each season to the Amateur First Division. The league was renamed 19 June 2008. In 2012 the league expanded from 32 to 36 teams with 2 more teams promoted. The league used the 2006 format, with four divisions of nine teams each, with division winners receiving automatic promotion. In 2012-13, it went back to two divisions of sixteen. For the 2015 season, it used four divisions of eight teams.

2019-20 season

The season kicked off in November 2019. The 42 teams were consolidated back into four divisions.

The league went for the December break, and didn't return. The league was later cancelled due to the outbreak of Covid-19 outbreak in Nigeria. No team was promoted to the Premier division after football activities were stopped due to the rampaging effect of Covid-19.[1]

2020/21 Season

On 6 November 2020, the league's organizing committee agreed to continue the four division North and South format for the 2021 season. The start date was to be three weeks after the top division NPFL resumes. The league is expected to start on 30 January 2021 after the successful draws at the Congress held on Friday 15 January at Ebonyi State[2]

On Saturday 30 January 2021, an Emergency congress took place in Ebonyi State where the kick off date was changed to 13 February 2021. 21 clubs voted in favor of 13 February while 4 clubs voted in favor of 6 February [3]

Nigeria National League Stadiums 2020-21
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Mighty Jets F.C. Jos New Jos Stadium 60,000
FC Taraba Jalingo Jalingo City Stadium 30,000
Calabar Rovers F.C. Calabar U. J. Esuene Stadium 25,000
Kogi United F.C. Lokoja Confluence Stadium 25,000
Vandrezzer FC Lagos Teslim Balogun Stadium 24,325
Giant Brillars Enugu Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium 22,000
Apex Krane FC Asaba Stephen Keshi Stadium 22,000
ABS FC Ilorin Kwara State Stadium 18,000
Gombe United F.C. Gombe Pantami Stadium 12,000
Bendel Insurance F.C. Benin City Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium 12,000
El-Kanemi Warriors F.C. Maiduguri El-Kanemi Stadium 10,000
Osun United F.C. Osogbo Oshogbo Stadium 10,000
Crown F.C. Ibadan Adamasingba Stadium 10,000
Shooting Stars S.C. Ibadan Adamasingba Stadium 10,000
Stationery Stores F.C. Lagos Onikan Stadium 10,000
Aklosendi International Lafia Lafia Township Stadium 10,000
Green Berets of Zaria Zaria Zaria Township Stadium 10,000
Nnewi United Oba Rojenny International Stadium 10,000
Gateway United F.C. Abeokuta MKO Abiola Stadium 10,000
DMD Borno Mauduguri El-Kanemi Stadium 10,000
Nilàyo FC Abeokuta MKO Abiola Stadium 10,000
Delta Force F.C. Ogwashi Ukwu Jay Jay Okocha Stadium 8,000
Abia Comets F.C. Umuahia Umuahia Township Stadium 5,000
Bayelsa United F.C. Yenagoa Yenagoa Township Stadium 5,000
Niger Tornadoes F.C. Minna Minna Township Stadium 5,000
Sokoto United F.C. Sokoto Giginya Memorial Stadium 5,000
EFCC FC Abuja Old Parade Ground 5,000
NAF Rockets F.C. Abuja Old Parade Ground 5,000
Federal Road Safety FC Abuja Old Parade Ground 5,000
Oyah Sports International Minna Minna Township Stadium 5,000
Holy Arrows FC Ughelli Ughelli Township Stadium 5,000
J'Atete FC Ughelli Ughelli Township Stadium 5,000
Remo Stars F.C. Ikenne Remo Stars Stadium 5,000
Zamfara United F.C. Gusau Sardauna Memorial Stadium 5,000
Ibom Youths FC Ikot Ekpene Ikot Ekpene Stadium 5,000
FC One Rocket Ikot Ekpene Ikot Ekpene Stadium 5,000
Ekiti United Ado-Ekiti Oluyemi Kayode Stadium 4,000
Joy Cometh FC Lagos Agege Stadium 4,000
Godosky FC Nnewi Gabros Stadium 3,000
Yobe Desert Stars F.C. Damaturu Potiskum Stadium 2,000
Rarara FC Katsina Kahuta Stadium 2,000
Dynamite Force FC Benin City Western Boys Stadium 2,000
Kebbi United Birnin Kebbi Haliru Abdu Stadium 2,000
Go Round F.C. Omoku Krisdera Hotel Stadium 1,000
G&K Shekarau FC Kano Sabon Gari Stadium 1,000
Malumfashi United Malumfashi Township Stadium 1,000

Past winners

The league was a single table until 1998. Between 1998-2011 winners of the North and South divisions played a one-game playoff to determine the overall Division champion. 2011-2017 the champion was determined by a Super Four mini-league between the four promoted teams. In 2018 it was a Super Eight to pick the four teams.

See also

References
  1. Holmes, Tosin (1 June 2020). "Amaju Pinnick pledges Solidarity to NNL". Latest Sports News In Nigeria. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  2. "NNL Stakeholders adopt abridged format for the 2020-2021 season". 8 November 2020.
  3. Busari, Niyi (31 January 2021). "Breaking! Emergency Congress Confirms New Kick off Date For NNL". BSN Sports. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  4. "Nigeria's Most Important Football League Begins Friday". 11 February 2021.
  5. "National League Set To Sanction Defaulting Clubs". Archived from the original on 13 February 2009.
  6. "Niger Tornadoes FC beat Plateau United to win NNL Super-4 tournament". Vanguard News. 29 November 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  7. "Katsina United win 2016 NNL Super Four title - Goal.com". Goal.com. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
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