The 2025–26 Nigeria National League (formerly the National Division 1) was the 34th season of the Nigeria National League under its current title and the 17th season under its current league division format. The Nigeria National League (NNL) is the second-highest tier in the Nigerian football league system after the Nigeria Premier Football League, and is currently contested by 36 clubs.
On 8 May, Sporting Lagos were crowned league champions after finishing top of the Super 4 table.
Team changes The following teams have changed division since the 2024–25 season:
To National League
Promoted from 2024/25 Nationwide League Ekiti United Stormers SC
Relegated from the Nigeria Premier League Lobi Stars Sunshine Stars Akwa United Heartland
From National League
Promoted to the Nigeria Premier League Warri Wolves Wikki Tourists Barau Kun Khalifat
Relegated to 2025/26 Nationwide League Ijele Igbajo FC 1472 FC Madiba Zamfara United (spared)
Teams Information
Conference A Team Location Stadium CapacityGateway UnitedAbeokutaMKO Abiola StadiumAbia CometsUmuahia Umuahia Township Stadium 5,000Beyond LimitsIkenneRemo Stars Stadium5,000Crown FCOgbomoshoSoun StadiumDakkadaUyoUyo Township StadiumEdelAwkaAwka City StadiumSunshine StarsAkureDipo Dina International StadiumHeartlandOwerriDan Anyiam StadiumInter LagosLagosMobolaji Johnson ArenaSmart City
Conference B Team Location Stadium CapacityAbakalikiAbakalikiPa Ngele Oruta Township StadiumFirst Bank FCLagosMobolaji Johnson ArenaEkiti UnitedEkitiOluyemi Kayode StadiumGodswill Akpabio FC UyoUyo Township StadiumAkwa UnitedStormers SCAbeokutaMKO Abiola StadiumOsun UnitedOsogboOsogbo Township StadiumRoversCalabarU.J. Esuene StadiumSolution FCAwkaAwka City StadiumSporting LagosLagosMobolaji Johnson Arena
Conference C Team Location Stadium CapacityDoma UnitedGombePantami Stadium12,000City F.C.Abuja Lobi Stars MakurdiAper Aku StadiumMighty JetsJosNew Jos StadiumBasiraLafiaLafia City StadiumSokoto UnitedSokotoGiginya Memorial StadiumKada WarriorsKadunaAhmadu Bello StadiumABSIlorinKwara State Stadium 18,000
Conference D Team Location Stadium CapacityAdamawa UnitedYolaRibadu Square Stadium 5,000Bichi FirstKanoBichi StadiumRanchers BeesKadunaRanchers Bees StadiumGombe UnitedGombe Pantami Stadium 12,000Jigawa Golden Stars DutseKazaure StadiumKebbi UnitedBirnin KebbiFIFA Goal Project PitchSporting SupremeBwariBwari StadiumYobe Desert StarsDamaturuPotiskum Stadium
Format The AGM adopted an abridged league format splitting the competition into four conferences — A, B, C and D — with the top club in each conference gaining automatic promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). The Super 8 play-off was scrapped and rather a new Super 4 competition will instead be introduced at the end of the season to decide the overall NNL champion.
Main round
South Region
Conference A
Conference B
North Region
Conference C
Conference D
Championship round A championship round, known as the Super Four, involving the promoted teams from the four groups was held from 4–8 May to determine the overall league champion. All matches were played at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.
Matches
Season statistics Scoring Top scorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Paulinus Okon Akwa United42 Jamiu Sa'ad ABS FC3 Eko Barine Godswill Akpabio FC
Awards
Monthly
MonthManager of the MonthMost Valuable Player Highest Goal Scorer of the MonthBest Goalkeeper of the MonthGoal of the MonthBest Behaved TeamManagerClubPlayerClubPlayerClubPlayerClubPlayerClubDecember Paul OfforAkwa United Yaro ZakariYobe Desert Stars Ajibola JoelStormers SC Emmanuel DanielRanchers Bees Daniel GothamAkwa United Kada WarriorsJanuary Paul OfforAkwa United Victor SamuelSporting Lagos Tony AyangaRovers Aloysius ThankGodAkwa United Babarinde TaofeekGateway FcRoversFebruary Paul OfforAkwa United Obisesan SodiqOsun United Innocent IduCity Fc Alo Chukwu PascalAbakaliki Fc Jafar OjoSmart CityLobi Stars
See also 2026 Nigeria Federation Cup 2026 Nigeria Women's Federation Cup 2025–26 Nigeria Premier Football League 2025–26 NWFL Premiership
References