The 2025/2026 football season of the Nigeria National League will kick off November, 8, 2025 in Markurdi with newcomers Lobi Stars taking on City FC of Abuja in the opening game of the league.
This was part of the decision reached at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the second tier League held in Kaduna Statel yesterday, September 16, 2025.
Apart from deciding on date for the commencement of the league, the club owners at the meeting also unanimously abolished the Super 8 playoff replacing it with Super 4 that will be played among the best four teams in the conferences to determine the overall winner of the league.
In order to further strengthen the league, it was also agreed that for the 2025/2026 season, three teams will be relegated from Group A and B which have 10 teams each while two teams will be relegated from Group C and D that boasts of 8 teams each,making it a total of 36 teams, two less than that of last season
It’s expected that with top teams like Sunshine Stars, Heartland, Lobi Stars, and Akwa United aiming to return to the NPFL, and ambitious rising teams like Sporting Lagos, Inter Lagos, and Beyond Limits FA eager to make a statement, fans can expect thrilling matches in the new season.
