NNL:32 Teams Eye Four NPL Tickets

All the 32 teams participating in the Nigeria National League (NNL) will start the journey to gain promotion to the Nigeria Premier League where only the big clubs in Nigeria feature.

At the end of the race, only four teams will celebrate while another set of eight teams will relegate to Nigeria Nationwide a league (a third level league).

The NNL will start on the 15th of February 2014 and only Tickets are up for grabs, these promotion ticket will be shared by two groups of 16 teams each. That means 16 teams from each group will fight to get one out of the two ticket meant for each group.

In group A, Kwara United and Wikki Tourist (relegated teams) will face stern test from
teams like Niger Tornadoes, Ranchers Bees, DSS FC, Plateau Untied and Mighty Jets.

Group B will even be tougher as 3SC and ABS FC (relegated teams) will have to be at their best at all time else the Nigeria Nationwide League (NNWL) will be glad to have them.

A long trip to Sokoto is expected from Kwara United as they take on Sokoto United who have been quiet during the preseason preparation. Kwara United got four away wins while playing top flight football in the NPL last season, picking some vital points on the road in the NNL will mean more to them.

Ranchers Bees popularly known as the "Bees" missed promotion ticket last season on the last day needing an out right away win in Jos against Plateau United but the Bees couldn't get it. They will start their campaign this term at Lokoja against home team Kogi United. The boys from the confluence state didn't survive the relegation battle last season but found their way back to the NNL courtesy of Meridian FC slot.

Two private owned clubs, Dynamic Sporting Solutions (DSS) and The Everlasting Arm Parish (TEAP) will face each other in their league opener. While Mighty Jets of Jos will host Spotlight FC of Katsina. One of the Abuja base teams , Nigeria Prison will host Plateau United, Niger Tornadoes of Mina will host new boys Supreme Court, FRSC managed by former under-20 player Uche Okagbue will face experience side Adamawa United and Wikki Tourist of Bauchi will be at Hedejia stadium to play Jigawa Golden Stars.

Group B has some some interesting fixtures as well, the much awaited Stores will start their campaign against Abia Comets, new NNL boys, Go Round FC from Rivers state will host Prime FC of Osogbo. First Bank FC of Lagos have found their way back to the NNL courtesy of Grays FC slot and they will be visitors to Bendel Insurance at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin.

ABS FC will host Gabros Int'l of Nnewi at the Ilorin township stadium, in Uyo it will be Akwa Starlet vs newly formed team, Ekiti United, Unicem Rovers of Calabar who started their campaign in Lagos last season will now host another Lagos base team, MFM while COD United popularly known as "The White Lions" will host Gateway FC "The Rock City Boys" at the Onikan stadium.

Below is week one NNL Fixtures;

#NNL2013/2014Week1Fixtures Mighty Jet Vs. Sportlight FC

Date: 15-16th February, 2014

Group A

Sokoto United Vs Kwara United

Kogi United Vs Ranchers Bees

DSS F.c Vs TEAP Fc

Mighty Jets Vs Spotlight F.c

Nigeria Prison F.c Vs Plateau United

FRSC F.c Vs Adamawa United

Jigawa Golden Stars Vs Wikki Tourists

Niger Tornadoes Vs Supreme Court

Group B

ABS FC Vs Gabros Int'l

Akwa Starlet Vs Ekiti United

Unicem Rovers Vs MFM FC

Remo Stars FC Vs 3SC

C.O.D United Vs Gateway United

Stationery Stores Vs Abia Comets

Go-Round FC Vs Prime FC

Bendel Insurance Vs First Bank