Nasarawa United seal NNL Super Eight ticket
Photo: Nasarawa State deputy governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe
Coach Adams Usman of Nasarawa United on Saturday in Sokoto clinched the last Super Eight ticket in the Conference C of the Nigeria National League(NNL) with a vital draw against Zamfara United at the Giginya Memorial Stadium, Sokoto the adopted home of Zamfara.
It was Zamfara who found the back of the net first in the 40th minute through Namadi Ahmad and two minutes later Terdoo Shimagande leveled up for the Solid Miners.
The one-all-draw was all the Lafia-based side needed to advance as they finished in second place with a total of 33 points one behind Confence C winners El-Kanemi Warriors and one ahead of Wikki Tourists of Bauchi.
While Zamfara United maintained their status in the League, the Bauchi Elephants defeated EFCC of Abuja 4-2 at the Area 3 FIFA Goal Project pitch in Garki but will now continue life next season.
Abuja-based Nigeria Airforce Football Club (NAF) ended the season with a 2-0 away victory over ABS FC in Ilorin. However, their last gap effort in Ilorin could not save them from going down.
Mighty Jets of Jos and Yobe Desert Stars of Damaturu also played out a one-all draw at the new Jos Stadium, a result which means both teams will still compete in the NNL next season.
Nasarawa United now joins Sokoto United, Sporting Supreme, and El-Kanemi Warriors as teams that have booked their tickets to the 2023/2024 NNL Super Eight promotion playoff.
Those relegated are NAF FC, ABS FC, and EFCC FC. They are condemned to start new life in the 3rd tier NLO.
The 2023/2024 regular season of the NNL will come to a halt in the next two weeks in Conferences A and B.
