NNL Clubs Unsure of Super 8 Play-off

NNL Clubs Unsure of Super 8 Play-off By Admin Silence on the side of the Nigeria National League Management over the Super 8 expected to kick off immediately after the 2017/18 season has thrown many people into confusion. Clubs in the Nigeria National League look confused over the position of the league body on the Super Eight tournament, which would produce the league winners and the teams to be promoted to the Nigeria Professional Football League. The top two teams in each of the four groups of the abridged 2018 NNL season are expected to participate in the mini-tournament. In Group A1, Gombe United are first while Real Stars are second.Kogi United top Group A2 with Kada City second. Insurance of Benin and Shooting Stars are the top two teams in Group B1 while Remo Stars and Delta Force lead Group B2. However, certain reports say the playoffs may not hold, with only the top teams in each group winning promotion to the NPFL. Also, it was reported that the top two teams would be promoted to the topflight after an agreement between the League Management Company and the NNL. Some club managers, who spoke with Punch correspondent, said they were unsure of the Super Eight tournament. Chairman of Kogi United Abdul Sule said the NNL has not communicated to clubs when the playoffs would hold. “We are not sure whether the Super Eight will hold or not because we have not received any information from the NNL on where and when the competition will hold. All we have now are rumours saying that it will not hold and the group winners will be the promoted teams. There is even another rumour that eight teams will be promoted and none will be relegated,” he said. “Before the season started, there was a congress where we all decided that the top two teams will play in a playoff to decide the league winners and the promoted teams. But we are still waiting for the NNL to state that after the conclusion of matches.” Shooting Stars Team Manager Dimeji Lawal said the club have been waiting for the NNL to inform them on the playoffs after the conclusion of matches in their group. He said, “What is happening is not clear to anyone because we have been waiting for a decision on the Super Eight. The congress agreed that the only way teams can be promoted is through the playoffs but we are surprised with the various reports we are getting that it won’t hold again.” But the Chief Operating Officer of the NNL Lawrence Katken said the playoffs would hold after the completion of matches in the league. “There is no truth in the reports that the Super Eight has been cancelled. The congress agreed that there would be a Super Eight and the only thing that can change it is the congress. The NNL will organise the Super Eight after the completion of the outstanding matches in some groups,” he said.