August, 2 2023.
The Nigeria National League (NNL) relegation play-offs billed to kick-off in the ancient city of Kano, is now enmeshed in some uncertainties amidst protestation by most of the eight teams, billed to participate in the tournament.
The eight team season ending tournament is to determine the four sides that would be dropped to the Nigeria Nationwide League One, and the four clubs that will retain their status in the NNL, the nation's second tier football league.
But even before a ball is kicked, virtually all the clubs signed a statement saying they are opposed to going to Kano, citing a non-footballing reason, the outbreak of diphtheria as their reason for not wanting to go to Kano.
The eight sides are; Adamawa United of Yola, Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) of Ilorin, Edel FC of Oba in Anambra State, FWC Champions of Abuja, Henserd FC of Yenagoa, Ikorodu City (Lagos), Smart City FC (Lagos) and Sokoto United, were the two bottom clubs from the two sub-divisions in the Northern Conference, and the two in the Southern Conferences of the NNL last season.
The battle ground, the 16,000 Sani Abacha Stadium in Kofar-Mata area is located in the heart of Kano, one of the two commercial nerves of Nigeria www.ckdmedia.ng reports.
The NNL not long ago also had its promotional play-offs at the Stephen Keshi Memorial Stadium in Asaba, Delta State where Heartland FC of Owerri, Kano Pillars FC, Sporting Lagos FC and Katsina United FC, to the Nigeria Premier league Football League (NPFL) without any such rancour.
The NNL insists all eight teams must arrive at the groundnut pyramid City of Kano on or before Friday 5th August, 2023 as the draw is scheduled to hold the next day, ahead of the kick-off proper on Monday August 7th.
The already relegated clubs are:
1.FC Ebedei-Shagamu from (Ogun State)
2.Go-Round, Omoku (Rivers State)
3.Green Berets FC of Zaria (Kaduna State)
4. Ibom Youths, Ikot-Ekpene (Akwa-Ibom State)
5. Joy Comeths (Lagos State)
6.Kogi United, Lokoja
7.Police Machine Force HQ (Gombe), and
8. Zamfara United FC (Zamfara State).
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