The Nigeria National League (NNL) has done away with playoffs to decide promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
From the 2025/26 season onward, the winners of the four conference groups will gain automatic promotion.
The season will kick off on Saturday, November 8, following an announcement at the NNL general assembly on Tuesday.
“The NNL Annual General Meeting set November 8, 2025, as the start date for the 2025/2026 season, beginning with a star match. Other week one games will be played on November 14, 15, and 16 at various venues,” the Nigeria Football Federation stated on Wednesday.
The league will feature four conferences—A, B, C, and D—with a shortened format.
“The AGM abolished the Super 8 playoffs. Now, only the conference leaders will earn promotion to the NPFL,” the statement added.
To determine the overall champion, a mandatory Super 4 tournament will involve the four conference winners.
Teams missing the tournament risk losing their promotion spot to their conference runner-up.
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