By Godwin Enakhena

The NNL is the second tier of the domestic league in Nigeria. It is often described as the Most Important League by the organizers because it serves the elite division, Nigeria Professional League (NPFL) and the Nationwide League (NLO).
The NNL Chairman is Chidi Okenwa Ofo who died recently. Chief Executive Officer was Hon. Bukola Olopade until his resignation for personal reasons, while the Chief Operating Officer is Lawrence Katken.

My source told me that with about N100m needed to finish the season, with no sponsor, and the NFF’s inability to give the usual bailout to the NNL because of paucity of funds, and of course the Coronavirus pandemic, not forgetting that teams have not played more than five games, the decision to end the league was made easy.

According to information from the NNL, the league started in 1979 and was reorganized in 1991. From 1997-2011, the league was 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 June 19, 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, the NNL went back to two divisions of sixteen. For the 2015 season, it used four divisions of eight teams.
The 2019/20 season kicked off in November 2019 with 42 teams consolidated back into four divisions. But with the resignation of Hon Olopade, the NNL struggled to pay match-day indemnities to match officials and it was only a matter of time for the league to grind to a halt.

Hon Olopade said he resigned from the league body after it emerged that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) may have jettisoned the NNL’s idea of promoting eight teams to the top flight Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). He vowed to quit his position if the resolution of the NNL Congress – which cancelled their mandatory playoffs in favour of promoting all eight teams – was not admitted by the NFF Executive board.

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. By season 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.

League Suspension…
When the new season began in November 2019, the NNL said there won’t be playoffs and that winners of the four groups will gain automatic promotion to the elite division, Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). Christmas break in December and new year passed but no words from the NNL on the league resumption. The closest clue was given by the NFF when it said the NNL board had overstayed it’s tenure and that there would be a quick reorganization for the league to restart.
Weeks turned months and participating clubs became apprehensive. Rumor went round town that the NNL was broke and it’s over reliance on the NFF for bailouts was the reason for the league stoppage. Note that the sponsors, Bet9ja had ended their relationship with the NNL.
A new twist was added to the long tale of excuses when NNL club Owners were said to have accused the league body of pre-determining clubs to be promoted to the NPFL. They also cited poor officiating by referees as evidence.

A look at the tables show that while some teams have played 5 games, others have played 4 and 3 respectively. Topping their tables are Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan, Bendel Insurance of Benin City, Kada City of Kaduna and Niger Tornadoes of Minna.
Worst hit by the indefinite suspension of the league are new entrants, Vandresser. The Akwa Ibom State billionaire club came into the NNL with a bang and big dreams, with a lot of innovations. They recruited Brazilian coach, Rafael Everton. Right now, players and officials have had their contracts suspended for obvious reasons.

The statement by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha that sporting activities won’t be entertained until a review mid February may have drilled the final nail on the coffin and the promotion ambitions of clubs in the NNL.
For now, the Most Important League in Nigeria is in coma.

  COVID19, Nigeria National League, NNL