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The Nigeria National League has announced tougher disciplinary measures targeting violence and misconduct in the country’s second-tier football competition, following its Annual General Meeting held Friday in Owerri, Imo State.
Meeting at the Rock View Hotel, league officials reviewed the just-concluded 2025-26 campaign and praised progress in fixture scheduling, refereeing standards, media coverage and governance. But the board voiced sharp concern over a rise in disciplinary incidents last season, many involving assaults on match officials and an aggressive “win-at-all-cost” culture among clubs.
According to a communiqué made available after the AGM, the NNL board approved a package of new rules: clubs will now be held responsible for the conduct of their own supporters, and any club or fan group that damages broadcasting or live-streaming equipment will be required to cover the full replacement cost. Security at stadiums will also be tightened, with venue access restricted to accredited personnel only.
The league confirmed October 31, 2026 as the opening date for its new season, though the rest of the matchweek-one fixtures won’t kick off until November 7. For the coming campaign, the NNL will run four conferences — two containing nine clubs (Conferences A and B) and two with eight clubs (Conferences C and D). Organizers said they plan to consolidate the format into two 16-club conferences starting in 2027-28.
On promotion and relegation, the league confirmed four clubs – Doma United, Ranchers, Sporting Lagos and Inter Lagos – have moved up to the Nigeria Premier Football League. Ten clubs were relegated to the Nationwide League One, including Gombe United, Mighty Jets, City FC and First Bank FC, while eight sides earned promotion into the NNL from the third tier.
The board also pledged to expand digital and streaming coverage in partnership with broadcast partners, and said only stadiums deemed suitable for television production will be permitted to host league matches next season.
Delegates further approved the league’s 2025-26 audited financial report and the proposed 2026-27 budget, and passed a vote of confidence in the board led by its chairman, George Aluo, citing the progress made under his leadership.
