There appears to be no end in sight to the impasse between certain clubs in the Nigeria National League (NNL) and the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) over the number of clubs getting promoted to the top tier after Kogi United, Kada City, Bendel Insurance, 3SC and Remo Stars refused to take part in the Super 8 playoffs in Aba.
Reports from Aba indicate that at a meeting held today between representatives of the NFF and those of the three NNL clubs – Gombe United, Real Stars and Delta Force – who had travelled for the tournament, an agreement was reached to postpone the Super 8, with January 2, 2019, suggested as a new date for the tournament.
Busybuddiesng.com understands that the teams have now started returning to their bases with official confirmation of the decision to postpone the Super 8 still being expected.
Both leagues have been in a standoff over the number of teams which would get promoted to the NPFL with the NNL proposing all eight clubs which finished in the top two of the groups gain direct promotion to the NPFL.
The NPFL, on the other hand, say only four teams determined by a ‘Super 8’ playoff will get promoted.
The NFF had earlier waded into the imbroglio and directed that all eight NNL teams honour the Super 8 which was slated for Wednesday 19, December in Aba but only three teams Delta Force, Real Stars and Gombe United travelled for the tournament.
Kogi United, Kada City, Bendel Insurance, 3SC and Remo Stars have all refused to participate insisting that the NFF honour an earlier agreement which they believed guaranteed them promotion to the NPFL without going through the Super 8 playoffs.
Remo Stars proprietor Kunle Soname in an appearance on a radio show on Wednesday outlined the reasons why some of the clubs have refused to participate in the Super 8.
Meanwhile, Enyimba FC who recently announced contract extensions for four players have taken advantage of the clubs presence in Aba to engage in preseason friendlies with the latest being a one nil loss to Delta Force on Wednesday.
