Nigeria National League

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.

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 [2]

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 [3]

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.[4]

The 2019 Nigeria National League (NNL) kicked off on 23 April, and came to an end in the first week of July 2019. There were originally supposed to be four groups, but a week before the season they divided again into eight. The eventual group winners play another in a playoff (1 vs 2, 3 vs 4) to determine the four teams winning promotion.

Season was scheduled to be played April to September, with break in July for World Cup.[5] Teams in bold promoted to the 2019 NPFL.

Teams in bold promoted to 2018 NPFL season

Season began 7 May and ended in October[6] Teams in bold won promotion to 2017 Nigeria Professional Football League

• Group A1: Sokoto united, Kaduna United, Kogi United, Shekarau Babes(Kano), Katsina United, Yarmalight, Mighty Jets, Jigawa Golden Stars
• Group A2: Adamawa United, Kwara United, FC Taraba, Wikki Feeders, Supreme Court FC, Dreams FC (Makurdi), Gombe United, FC Zamfara
• Group B1: Remo Stars, COD United, Delta Force F.C., Prime, Go Round, UNICEM Rovers, Akwa Starlets, Abia Comets
• Group B2: ABS FC, Crown, Cofine FC, J. Atete, Bayelsa United, First Bank, Gateway, Bendel Insurance

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.

• List of Nigerian Clubs

• 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