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The Nigerian National League: formerly known as National Division 1, is the second tier of club football in Nigeria and feeds into the first division: the NPFL.
Things are beginning to take shape as preparations for the start of the 2023 Nigeria National League (NNL), are now being finalized.
An Annual General Meeting of the NNL held last Friday in Abuja, had confirmed that the league was due to kick off on Friday, March 3, 2023, with teams divided into a total of groups based on proximity, to help combat ongoing economic challenges in Nigeria.
This, sees the NNL move away from its usual group of four, and two conferences.
Ahead of the 2023 season, these are the 42 teams in Nigeria's second division.
Teams in the Northern Conference
- Kano Pillars (Based In: Kano)
- Katsina United (Based In: Katsina)
- Malumfashi FC (Based In: Katsina)
- City FC (Based In: Abuja)
- EFCC (Based In: Abuja)
- Mailantarki FC (Based In: Abuja)
- Hypehuzz (Based In: Abuja)
- NAF FC (Based In: Abuja)
- Sokoto United (Based In: Sokoto)
- Yobe Desert Stars (Based In: Yobe)
- Mighty Jets (Based In: Plateau)
- ABS (Based In: Kwara)
- Police Barretta (Based In: Gombe)
- Jigawa Golden Stars (Based In: Jigawa)
- Kebbi United (Based In: Kebbi)
- Adamawa United (Based In: Adamawa)
- DMD FC (Based In: Borno)
- Green Berets (Based In: Nasarawa)
Teams in the Southern Conference
- Heartland (Based In: Imo)
- Abia Comets (Based In: Abia)
- Sporting Lagos (Based In: Lagos)
- Smart City (Based In: Lagos)
- Madiba (Based In: Lagos)
- Ikorodu City (Based In: Lagos)
- Nnewi United (Based In: Anambra)
- Aspire FC ( Based In: Anambra)
- Ibom Youth (Based In: Akwa Ibom)
- Vandrezzer (Based In: Akwa Ibom)
- One Rocket (Based In: Akwa Ibom)
- Herserd (Based In: Bayelsa)
- Rovers (Based In: Cross River)
- Warri Wolves (Based In: Delta)
- Cynosure (Based In: Ebonyi)
- Ekiti United (Based In: Ekiti)
- Giant Brillars (Based In: Enugu)
- FC Ebedei (Based In: Ogun)
- Gateway Utd (Based In: Ogun)
- Ijebu United (Based In: Ogun)
- Abeokuta Stormers (Based In: Ogun)
- Crown FC (Based In: Oyo)
- Go Round (Based In: Rivers)
- FWC Champions
How many Groups are there?
Following the agreement on an abridged league format for the 2023 season, the Northern and Southern conferences will be broken into four groups each:
- A1, A2, A3, A4
- B1, B2, B3, B4
Teams will be grouped based on proximity. The actual group will be announced later in February.
The top team from each group will then proceed to a Super 8 playoff to determine what four teams will gain promotion to next season's NPFL.
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