The Nigerian National League (formerly known as National Division 1)
The Nigerian National League shortly known as the NNL in Nigeria and is the second-highest overall in the Nigerian football league system after the Nigeria Professional Football League, and is currently contested by 46 clubs.
Each season, four teams are promoted to the Nigeria Professional Football League, via NNL Super 4/NNL Super 8. The twelve lowest-finishing teams in the Nigerian National League are relegated to Nigeria Nationwide League.
History
From 1997-2011, the league has been split into 1A for Northern teams and 1B for southern teams. The top two from each division are promoted to the Nigerian Premier League the next season. The exceptions were the 2005–06 and 2006-07 seasons where there were four divisions of eight teams each, with each division winner winning promotion. Up to four teams in each division are relegated each season to the Amateur First Division. The league was renamed 19 June 2008. In 2012 the league expanded from 32 to 36 teams with 2 more teams promoted. The league used the 2006 format, with four divisions of nine teams each, with division winners receiving automatic promotion. In 2012-13, it went back to two divisions of sixteen. For the 2015 season, it used four divisions of eight teams.
2019-20 season
The season kicked off in November 2019. The 42 teams were consolidated back into four divisions.
The league went for the December break, and didn't return. The league was later cancelled due to the outbreak of Covid-19 outbreak in Nigeria. No team was promoted to the Premier division after football activities were stopped due to the rampaging effect of Covid-19.
Group A1
ABS FC
Aklosendi Int'l
DMD Borno
Federal Road Safety FC
Green Beret FC
Kada City F.C. Kebbi United Kogi United NAF FC Malumfashi FC Oyah Sports FC Zamfara
Group A2
EFCC F.C. El-Kanemi Warriors Gombe United Kwara United Mighty Jets Rarara FC Sokoto United Niger Tornadoes Yobe Desert Stars
Group B1
Abia Comets
Apex Krane FC, Delta State
Ibom Youth
Dynamite FC
Ekiti United
Gateway United F.C. Giant Brillars Go Round F.C. Nilàyo FC Osun United F.C. Shooting Stars S.C.
Group B2
Bayelsa United
Bendel Insurance
Calabar Rovers
Crown F.C. J'Atete FC Joy Cometh FC Lamray United Remo Stars F.C. Stationery Stores F.C. Vandrezzer FC
2020/21 Season
On 6 November 2020, the league's organizing committee agreed to continue the four division North and South format for the 2021 season. The start date was to be three weeks after the top division NPFL resumes. The league is expected to start on 30 January 2021 after the successful draws at the Congress held on Friday 15 January at Ebonyi State
On Saturday 30 January 2021, an Emergency congress took place in Ebonyi State where the kick off date was changed to 13 February 2021. 21 clubs voted in favor of 13 February while 4 clubs voted in favor of 6 February
Group A1
ABS FC, Ilorin
EFCC FC, Abuja
Hyperbuzz, Maiduguri
Kogi United
Mailantarki Carr
Mighty Jets
Group A2
DMD Borno
Federal Road Safety FC
G&K Shekarau FC, Kano
Kebbi United
Kogi United
Malumfashi United
Niger Tornadoes, Minna
Yobe Desert Stars F.C. Zamfara United
Group B1
Calabar Rovers
Delta Force F.C. Dynamite Force FC, Benin Ekiti United Giant Brillars, Enugu Go Round F.C., Omoku Nilàyo FC, Abeokuta Nnewi United Osun United F.C. 3SC, Ibadan Stationery Stores F.C., Lagos Vandrezzer FC, Lagos
Group B2
Abia Comets F.C. Apex Krane FC, Delta State Bayelsa United Bendel Insurance Crown F.C. Gateway United F.C. Godosky FC, Anambra Holy Arrows FC, Oleh Ibom Youths FC, Uyo J'Atete FC, Ughelli Joy Cometh FC, Lagos FC One Rocket, Ikot Ekpene Remo Stars F.C.
Nigeria National League Stadiums 2020-21
Past winners
The league was a single table until 1998. Between 1998-2011 winners of the North and South divisions played a one-game playoff to determine the overall Division champion. 2011-2017 the champion was determined by a Super Four mini-league between the four promoted teams. In 2018 it was a Super Eight to pick the four teams.
See also
List of Nigerian Clubs
References
External links
2006-07 season on rsssf
2009-10 final 1-A table (JUTH FC site) Two clubs opt out of NNL National League hits TV Nigeria National League holds Seminar 2012 league lineup