# Nigeria National League

9°1′47.8″N 7°26′51.4″E﻿ / ﻿9.029944°N 7.447611°E﻿ / 9.029944; 7.447611
The Nigeria National League (NNL) (formerly the National Division 1) is the second-highest overall in the Nigerian football league system after the Nigeria Premier Football League, and is currently contested by 46 clubs.
Each season, four teams are promoted to the Nigeria Premier Football League, via NNL Super 4/NNL Super 8. The twelve lowest-finishing teams in the Nigerian National League are relegated to Nigeria Nationwide League.

## History

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.

## 2023-24 season

GROUP A
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| 1472 FC | Lagos | Mobolaji Johnson Arena | 5,000 |
| Abia Cometh FC | Umuahia | Umuahia Township Stadium | 5,000 |
| Abeokuta Stormers | Abeokuta | | |
| Beyond Limits FA | Ikenne | Remo Stars Stadium | 3,500 |
| Coal City FC | Enugu | | |
| Dakkada FC | Uyo | | |
| Edel FC | Awka | | |
| Ekiti United | Ado Ekiti | | |
| Madiba FC | Lagos | | |
| Rovers F.C. | Calabar | U. J. Esuene Stadium | |
| Smart City FC | Lagos | | |
| Vandrezzer FC | Lagos | Onikan Stadium | |
GROUP B
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| Crown F.C. | Ogbomosho | Lekan Salami Stadium | 10,000 |
| FC One Rocket | Uyo | Eket Township Stadium | 18,000 |
| Inter Lagos | Lagos | Mobolaji Johnson Arena | 5,000 |
| Ikorodu City | Lagos | Mobolaji Johnson Arena | 5,000 |
| Ijebu United | Ijebu-Ode | Dipo Dina Stadium | |
| Gateway United | Abeokuta | MKO Abiola Stadium | 10,000 |
| Giant Brillers | Enugu State | Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium | 22,000 |
| Osun United | Osogbo | Osogbo Township Stadium | 10,000 |
| Solution FC | Awka | Awka City Stadium | 3,000 |
| Tradesafe FC | Lagos State | | |
| Warri Wolves F.C. | Delta State | | |
GROUP C
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| ABS | Lagos | Mobolaji Johnson Arena | 5,000 |
| EFCC | Abia State | - | - |
| El-Kanemi Warriors | Borno State | El-Kanemi Stadium | 10,000 |
| Mighty Jet | Plateau State | | |
| Nigeria Air Force FC | Ogun State | Remo Stars Stadium | 3,500 |
| Nasarawa United | Nasarawa State | | |
| Wikki Tourists | | | |
| Yobe Desert Stars | | | |
| Zamfara United | | | |
GROUP D
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| Adamawa United | Adamawa State | Ribadu Square Stadium | 5,000 |
| City F.C. Abuja | FCT | - | - |
| Jigawa Golden Stars | Kaduna State | Hadejia Stadium | 15,000 |
| Kebbi United | Kebbi State | Haliru Abdul Stadium | |
| Mailantarki Care FC | | | |
| Malumfashi FC | Katsina State | | 3,500 |
| Sokoto United | Sokoto State | Giginya Memorial Stadium | |
| Sporting Supreme | FCT | | |

## 2019-20 season

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.

## 2020/21 Season

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
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

## Nigeria National League Stadiums 2020-21

| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| Mighty Jets F.C. | Jos | New Jos Stadium | 60,000 |
| FC Taraba | Jalingo | Jalingo City Stadium | 30,000 |
| Calabar Rovers F.C. | Calabar | U. J. Esuene Stadium | 25,000 |
| Kogi United F.C. | Lokoja | Confluence Stadium | 25,000 |
| Vandrezzer FC | Lagos | Teslim Balogun Stadium | 24,325 |
| Giant Brillars | Enugu | Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium | 22,000 |
| Apex Krane FC | Asaba | Stephen Keshi Stadium | 22,000 |
| ABS FC | Ilorin | Kwara State Stadium | 18,000 |
| Gombe United F.C. | Gombe | Pantami Stadium | 12,000 |
| Bendel Insurance F.C. | Benin City | Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium | 12,000 |
| El-Kanemi Warriors F.C. | Maiduguri | El-Kanemi Stadium | 10,000 |
| Osun United F.C. | Osogbo | Oshogbo Stadium | 10,000 |
| Crown F.C. | Ibadan | Adamasingba Stadium | 10,000 |
| Shooting Stars S.C. | Ibadan | Adamasingba Stadium | 10,000 |
| Stationery Stores F.C. | Lagos | Onikan Stadium | 10,000 |
| Aklosendi International | Lafia | Lafia Township Stadium | 10,000 |
| Green Berets of Zaria | Zaria | Zaria Township Stadium | 10,000 |
| Nnewi United | Oba | Rojenny International Stadium | 10,000 |
| Gateway United F.C. | Abeokuta | MKO Abiola Stadium | 10,000 |
| DMD Borno | Mauduguri | El-Kanemi Stadium | 10,000 |
| Nilàyo FC | Abeokuta | MKO Abiola Stadium | 10,000 |
| Delta Force F.C. | Ogwashi Ukwu | Jay Jay Okocha Stadium | 8,000 |
| Abia Comets F.C. | Umuahia | Umuahia Township Stadium | 5,000 |
| Bayelsa United F.C. | Yenagoa | Yenagoa Township Stadium | 5,000 |
| Niger Tornadoes F.C. | Minna | Minna Township Stadium | 5,000 |
| Sokoto United F.C. | Sokoto | Giginya Memorial Stadium | 5,000 |
| EFCC FC | Abuja | Old Parade Ground | 5,000 |
| NAF Rockets F.C. | Abuja | Old Parade Ground | 5,000 |
| Federal Road Safety FC | Abuja | Old Parade Ground | 5,000 |
| Oyah Sports International | Minna | Minna Township Stadium | 5,000 |
| Holy Arrows FC | Ughelli | Ughelli Township Stadium | 5,000 |
| J'Atete FC | Ughelli | Ughelli Township Stadium | 5,000 |
| Remo Stars F.C. | Ikenne | Remo Stars Stadium | 5,000 |
| Zamfara United F.C. | Gusau | Sardauna Memorial Stadium | 5,000 |
| Ibom Youths FC | Ikot Ekpene | Ikot Ekpene Stadium | 5,000 |
| FC One Rocket | Ikot Ekpene | Ikot Ekpene Stadium | 5,000 |
| Ekiti United | Ado-Ekiti | Oluyemi Kayode Stadium | 4,000 |
| Joy Cometh FC | Lagos | Agege Stadium | 4,000 |
| Godosky FC | Nnewi | Gabros Stadium | 3,000 |
| Yobe Desert Stars F.C. | Damaturu | Potiskum Stadium | 2,000 |
| Rarara FC | Katsina | Kahuta Stadium | 2,000 |
| Dynamite Force FC | Benin City | Western Boys Stadium | 2,000 |
| Kebbi United | Birnin Kebbi | Haliru Abdu Stadium | 2,000 |
| Go Round F.C. | Omoku | Krisdera Hotel Stadium | 1,000 |
| G&K Shekarau FC | Kano | Sabon Gari Stadium | 1,000 |
| Malumfashi United | Malumfashi | Township Stadium | 1,000 |

## Past winners

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.
| Season | Winner |
| 1991 | El-Kanemi Warriors |
| 1992 | Concord FC, Abeokuta |
| 1993 | Enyimba |
| 1994 | Eagle Cement |
| 1995 | Kano Pillars |
| 1996 | Niger Tornadoes |
| 1997 | Kwara United |
| 1998 | Kwara Stars |
| 1999 | Udoji United |
| 2000 | El-Kanemi Warriors |
| 2001 | Kano Pillars |
| 2002 | Dolphins F.C. (Nigeria) |
| 2003 | Mighty Jets F.C. |
| 2004 | Nasarawa United |
| 2006 | Zamfara United |
| 2007 | Sunshine Stars F.C. |
| 2008 | Warri Wolves F.C. |
| 2008/09 | Dolphins F.C. (Nigeria) |
| Season | Winner |
| 2009/10 | Crown F.C. |
| 2010/11 | Wikki Tourists |
| 2012 | Nembe City F.C. |
| 2013 | Giwa F.C. |
| 2014 | Gabros International F.C. |
| 2015 | Niger Tornadoes F.C. |
| 2016 | Katsina United F.C. |
| 2017 | Go Round F.C. |
| 2018 | Kada City F.C. |
| 2022 | Bendel Insurance F.C. |
| 2023 | Heartland F.C. |
| 2024 | Beyond Limits F.A. |