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•Confirms Super 4, February 14 restart
The Nigeria National League (NNL), in collaboration with the chairmen of its clubs under the auspices of the Nigeria National League Club Owners and Managers Association (NALCOMA), has concluded its Mid-Season Retreat with far-reaching resolutions aimed at improving officiating, discipline and overall standards in the 2025/2026 season.
The retreat was held at the auditorium of Beyond Limits FC, within the ultra-modern Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the NNL and NALCOMA expressed gratitude to sports entrepreneur and Remo Stars chairman, Hon. Kunle Soname, for providing a conducive environment and facilities that ensured the success of the retreat.
The bodies also commended the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON), and the NFF Board for their “unflinching support and continuous guidance,” which they said has helped reposition the NNL as a critical league within the Nigerian football structure.
However, the retreat strongly condemned the “win-at-home-at-all-cost” mentality among some clubs, as well as the growing cases of harassment and intimidation of match officials. It described the standard of officiating in the first stanza of the 2025/2026 season as unacceptable and capable of bringing the league into disrepute.
As part of corrective measures, the retreat proposed the outright expulsion of any referee found guilty of compromising matches or failing to apply the Laws of the Game.
Reaffirming an earlier decision taken at the Annual General Meeting in Kaduna before the start of the season, the NNL reiterated that a Super 4 competition would be organised at the end of the campaign to determine the overall league winner. Club chairmen were reminded that any of the four qualified teams that fail to participate would automatically forfeit their promotion slot to the second-placed team in their respective conference. The retreat also welcomed proposals to increase prize money for the Super 4 tournament.
The NNL and NALCOMA commended betting company Betpawa for the prompt implementation of the Locker Room Bonus (LRB) during the first stanza of the season and noted plans by the company to provide additional material support to clubs.
The retreat upheld 14 February 2026 as the resumption date for the second stanza of the league, while urging clubs to complete their mid-season transfer activities on time.
Participants also appreciated the league’s new partners, Toptier Sports Management Ltd (TSM), for entering into an investment agreement with the NNL, and charged the company to activate the deal ahead of the second stanza. Other league partners were equally praised for their collective efforts to improve the quality and credibility of the competition.
On security and discipline, the retreat unanimously agreed that any match venue found promoting hooliganism, harassment or disruption of games would face stiff penalties. It further requested that referees from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) be drafted to officiate matches in the second stanza of the season.
The meeting applauded the cordial working relationship between the NNL Board and NALCOMA in the administration of the league, while advising that communication between both bodies should be further strengthened.
Finally, the retreat commended the leadership of the NNL Board under Chief George Aluo and NALCOMA under Mr Godwin Enakhena, lauding the progress recorded so far, particularly in attracting corporate partners to the league.
