NNL/ NALCOMA Retreat Upholds February 14th As Commencement Date For League’s Second Stanza
…Passes vote of confidence on Aluo and Enakhena, Appeal for NPFL referees to handle second stanza matches
The board of the Nigeria National League ( NNL) and National League Club Owners and Managers Association have upheld February, 14th for the commencement of the second stanza of the league just as they urged clubs to ensure timely completion of their mid- season transfer of players
This was part of the decision reached at the just concluded NNL/NALCOMA Retreat held Tuesday , January, 27, 2026 at the Beyond Limits FA auditorium, Remo Stadium, Ikenna, Ogun State.
In a communique issued after the retreat, the bodies bemoaned the standard of officiating in the 1st stanza of the 2025/2026 season, describing it as unacceptable and capable of bringing the league into disrepute just as they appealed that NPFL referees should be drafted to handle matches of the second stanza of the league.
The bodies while passing vote of confidence on NNL Chairman George Aluo and his NALCOMA counterpart, Godwin Enakhena on the achievements so far recorded, especially in the area of attracting partners for the league by the NNL board,
condemned in strong terms the win at home at all costs attitude of some clubs in the league, as well as the spate of harassments and intimidation of match officials.
According to the communique, the retreat proposed outright expulsion of any referee in the league that compromises and fails to implement the laws of the game during matches and
reiterated its earlier resolve at the Annual General Meeting in Kaduna state before the start of the season that a Super 4 competition shall be organized by the NNL at the end of the season to determine the overall winner of the league even as it reminded club chairmen that any of the four clubs that failed to participate shall automatically relinquish its promotion status to the club that came second on the table of such conference.
The communique also noted with delight the proposed increase of prize money for the Super 4 and commended Betpawa for the prompt implementation of the Locker Room Bonus (LRB) in the 1st stanza of the 2025/2026 league season, and also expressed happiness on the plan by Betpawa to further provide material support to the clubs.
It also thanked the NNL new partners, Toptier Sports Management Ltd (TSM) for signing an investment deal with the NNL and charged the company to activate the deal ahead of the second stanza, just as it thanked all other NNL partners for the concerted efforts being made to improve the quality of the league.
The communique further applauded the cordial relationship that exists between the NNL Board and NALCOMA in the administration of the league while advising that there has to be improvement in communication.
The retreat also unanimously agreed that any match venue that promotes hooliganism, harassment, and disruption of matches would be heavily penalized.
Both bodies appreciated the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau for piloting the affairs of football in the country and the NFF Board for the unflinching support and continuous guidance to make the NNL the most important league in Nigeria.
Finally, they also expressed their appreciation to Hon. Kunle Soname for the successful hosting of the retreat at his ultra modern sports facility at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, Ogun State.
