The clock is ticking for clubs across Nigeria aiming to compete in the 2025/2026 Nigeria National League (NNL) season. The league's secretariat has officially announced that the registration portal will open on October 6 and, crucially, will slam shut on October 24, 2025. Any club that misses this three-week window faces being excluded from the campaign, which is set to kick off on November 8, 2025.
The rigorous timeline underscores the NNL's commitment to maintaining its planned calendar and avoiding the administrative delays that have plagued past seasons.
Key Requirements for Participation
To be eligible for the upcoming season, clubs must ensure they fulfill a list of non-negotiable requirements before the October 24 cutoff. These include:
• Registration Modalities: Strict adherence to all stipulated registration guidelines.
• Transfer Matching System (TMS) Certificates: Mandatory submission of TMS certificates for all registered and transferred players, a key requirement for compliance and transparency.
• Medical Certificates: Valid medical certificates for every player and technical official to ensure fitness and safety standards are met.
• Insurance Certificates: Mandatory insurance coverage for all registered players and officials.
NNL COO Warns Against Delays
NNL Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Danlami Alanana, was firm in his warning to participating clubs, stressing that the league will not grant any extensions.
“We are doing everything possible to enable us tenaciously to stick to our planned programme of activities and would not want to be distracted. So we advise clubs to stick with us,” Alanana stated.
He emphasized that clubs have "ample time" to complete the process and urged them to take the registration seriously to guarantee a smooth start to the new campaign. The league body has also encouraged clubs to proactively liaise with the NNL Secretary for guidance, a measure aimed at ensuring every team achieves compliant registration.
The message is clear: the NNL is prioritizing discipline and a timely start to the 2025/2026 season. Clubs have been given their deadline and their marching orders—October 24 will be a defining day for their season aspirations.
