NNL Confirms November 8 Kick-Off for 2025/26 Season, Cancels Super Eight Playoff

The Nigeria National League (NNL) has confirmed that the 2025/26 season will officially kick off on Saturday, November 8, 2025.

The announcement was made during the NNL Annual General Meeting held in Kaduna on Tuesday. Among the key decisions reached was the cancellation of the traditional Super Eight playoff tournament. Instead, the top teams from each of the four groups will gain automatic promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

Lobi Stars and City FC have been selected to play the season’s curtain-raiser in what promises to be an exciting opener.

Opinion: A Bold Step Toward Fairer Competition

The scrapping of the Super Eight marks a significant shift in how promotion is decided in Nigerian football. For years, the playoff format has provided drama, but it has also been criticized for its unpredictability—often denying consistent teams the reward of promotion due to one-off results.

This new structure feels like a step in the right direction. By allowing the best-performing teams across the groups to gain direct promotion, the NNL is promoting fairness and consistency. It rewards teams that prove themselves over an entire season rather than just in a high-pressure mini-tournament.

Of course, the Super Eight’s absence will rob fans of some of the spectacle and tension that made it unique. But Nigerian football, in its bid to evolve, may need to trade spectacle for structural fairness. If the change brings more stability and ensures the NPFL receives clubs that have truly earned their place, then it could prove a masterstroke.

As the countdown to November 8 begins, all eyes will be on Lobi Stars and City FC to set the tone for what promises to be a fresh and fiercely competitive season in the NNL.