Chief Operating Officer of the Nigeria National League (NNL), Mr. Danlami Alanana, has warned that the league will not tolerate substandard pitches ahead of the 2025/2026 season November 8 Kick off date.
The NNL has begun a nationwide inspection of stadium facilities to ensure a smooth and professional start to the new campaign.
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In a statement issued by the league’s management, all 36 participating clubs have been directed to submit their proposed home venues by October 13, 2025, ahead of visits by the NNL inspection team.
The new season is scheduled to kick off on November 8, 2025.
As part of pre-season requirements, clubs are also mandated to complete all registration and licensing formalities by October 24, 2025, a critical step toward confirming player eligibility and overall club readiness.
Alanana reiterated that any stadium that fails to meet the league’s minimum standard will be disqualified from hosting matches.
“We honestly kick against poor pitches which lower our quality and may be injurious to the players, aside from not allowing the free flow of the game,” Alanana stated.
“We are a professional league, and clubs must imbibe acceptable pitch standards for the good of the game.”
He emphasized that quality venues are fundamental to delivering a successful season, urging clubs to take infrastructure upgrades seriously.
The NNL, which serves as Nigeria’s second-tier football league, is placing renewed focus on professionalism and global best practices.
The ongoing inspection will assess pitch quality, dressing room facilities, media provisions, security arrangements, and crowd management systems.
The league’s management also cautioned that failure to comply with the outlined standards and registration deadlines could attract severe sanctions, including disqualification from the season.
With the countdown to the November kick-off underway, clubs are under pressure to meet all operational and facility requirements to ensure a seamless and competitive league campaign.
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