Nasarawa United, Beyond Limits battle for NNL playoff trophy

… Remo Stars step up title chase as Rangers, Enyimba slip   Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) returnees, Nasarawa United will battle newcomers Beyond Limits today to decide who becomes the winner of the 2023/2024 Nigeria National League (NNL) season. The final match which is to be staged between the table toppers from both the […]

… Remo Stars step up title chase as Rangers, Enyimba slip

 

Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) returnees, Nasarawa United will battle newcomers Beyond Limits today to decide who becomes the winner of the 2023/2024 Nigeria National League (NNL) season.

The final match which is to be staged between the table toppers from both the northern and southern conference at the playoff will be held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium in Enugu.

It will be recalled that Heartland FC emerged as the second-tier league champions in 2013 in Delta state.

Already four clubs, namely the two finalists, El-Kanemi Warriors and Ikorudu City have picked the tickets to join the elite division of Nigeria professional football league.

The road to the playoff in the second tier league began with an abridged league format which saw 40 clubs grouped into conference A,B,C,D trading tackles among themselves for twenty weeks before the championship deciding tournament also called Super 8.

At the end of proceedings in Enugu, the two top clubs from each of the two groups of northern and southern conference automatically qualified for the NPFL.

As the two privately owned clubs Beyond Limits and Ikorodu City are looking forward to their debut season in the topflight, two of the three private clubs in the NPFL, Sporting Lagos and Doma United are currently battling for survival in the top-flight as they are neck-deep in relegation waters.

Meanwhile, the race for the StarTimes/NPFL title has opened up the more following Enugu Rangers’ 1-0 loss at 3SC and Enyimba 1-1 draw with Bayelsa United in Aba.

Rangers who still top the table have had their lead cut down to two points after Remo Stars dislodged Enyimba in the second spot with 4-1 hammering of relegated Heartland.

Enyimba’s attempt to defend the league title also suffered a dip as they drew 1-1 with Bayelsa United while Kano Pillars suffered a 2-0 loss at Kwara United.

Other week 36 matches  played yesterday saw an already relegated Gombe United further sinking deeper as they lost 1-3 to visiting Abia Warriors just as Akwa United defeated Katsina United 3-1.

Under-performing Lobi Stars continued with their poor form following a 3-2 loss to Niger Tornadoes in Kaduna.

Sporting Lagos hopes to escape relegation dimmed as they lost 1-2 to Plateau United just as Bendel Insurance defeated Rivers United 2-1 at home.