NNL 2025/2026 Season To Kick Off November 8 With Major Reforms
2 min read
By Sportsgister
The Nigeria National League (NNL) has confirmed that the 2025/2026 season will commence on Saturday, November 8, 2025, following resolutions reached during its Annual General Assembly held in Kaduna State.
The opening fixture will see Lobi Stars FC lock horns with FC Abuja in Makurdi, Benue State, serving as the curtain-raiser for what promises to be a competitive season.
In a landmark decision, the NNL board has abolished the Super 8 playoff format. Under the new structure, the top team from each conference will secure automatic promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). A separate Super Four competition will now be introduced to determine the overall NNL champion.
This season will feature 36 clubs, reduced from 38 in the previous campaign. The distribution is as follows:
Group A and B: 10 teams each, with three teams relegated from each group.
Group C and D: 8 teams each, with two teams relegated from both groups.
Looking ahead, the board announced a major restructuring from the 2026/2027 season, with the league set to operate in two groups of 16 teams each. The move, according to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Ibrahim Gusau, is designed to foster greater competitiveness.
Gusau emphasized that the current format, where clubs play just 16 matches per season, is insufficient to bring out the best of the league, hence the expansion.
To further motivate players and officials, Gusau also unveiled a matchday incentive package. Starting this season, each player and official of the winning team will receive ₦56,000 as a reward for victory.
The reforms are expected to increase the intensity of competition, strengthen club structures, and elevate the profile of the NNL as a critical pathway to Nigeria’s top-flight football.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
