The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communication, Chief Sunday Dare and the Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Eric Chelle were among top personalities that graced the kick off of the second tier league’s Super 4 tournament which began Monday, May, 4, 2026 at the Remo Stars Stadium Ikenne Ogun State.
The duo who led top NFF and NNL officials, including ex- international, Felix Owolabi and football stakeholders to Ikenne, were excited by the organization of the tournament and performance of the teams expressing confidence that all the teams will give a good account of themselves in the top flight.
According to Dare, the present board of the NNL has shown that with proper planning and organization, Nigerian football league will regain it’s lost glory, noting that the fact that all the four teams that got promoted to the top are privately owned is an indication that the country’s football administrators are now getting it right.
“I’m highly excited with the level of organization and the competition I witnessed in today’s matches and I must commend the NNL for putting up such a well organized Super 4.
“As you all know, the four teams participating in the tournament are privately owned teams which is an indication that officiating has improved and teams now win on the road unlike in the past when results of away matches are predetermined which is good for the country’s football.
” The fact that the National team coach also came here to scout for players shows how the second tier league has improved and I give kudos to both the leaders of NFF and NNL for the wonderful transformation witnessed in Nigerian football and I urge them not to relent in their efforts”, concludes the former Sports Minister.
Also speaking, chairman of NNL, Mr. George Aluo expressed confident that all the teams are capable of emerging winners at the end of the round robin game, just as he commended Hon. Kunle Soname for making his facilities available for the tournament and their sponsors, Toptier Sports Management and Betpawa for their locker room bonus.
Meanwhile, in the opening match of the tournament, Sporting Lagos recorded a hard fought 1-0 victory over Ranchers Bees of Kaduna in a match many fans believed could have gone to either side.
In the second match Doma Fc defeated Inter Lagos by the same margin to put them and Sporting Lagos on the same points.
The tension soaked match saw two players; Kennedy Osamudiame of Doma and Adigiun Damilare of Inter Lagos receiving red card in the 82nd minute.
Tuesday, will be observed as rest day for all the teams with hostilities resuming on Wednesday when Sporting Lagos will lock horns with Doma Fc while Inter Lagos and Ranchers Bees will face each other.
The Super 4 is being organized amongst the four promoted teams to the NPFL, to determine the eventual winner of the league.
Winner of the league will go home with N10million with all the participating teams getting N2million each.
