The Nigeria National League (NNL) board has officially delayed the start of the 2023/2024 league season, which was initially scheduled to begin on Saturday, October 28, Soccernet.ng reports.
This means that Dakkada United, Wikki Tourists, Warri Wolves and a host of others will not be exchanging tackles this month until further notice.
Meanwhile, the postponement by the NNL board members is aimed at allowing clubs to complete their registration for the upcoming season after the challenges faced by teams in meeting the October 25 registration deadline due to economic difficulties in the country.
In a statement, the NNL expressed regret in announcing the postponement, indicating that the league’s kickoff date in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State, will be rescheduled and communicated to teams once the registration process is finalized.
“We regret to announce that the 2023/2024 league season, originally planned to kick off this Saturday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, has been postponed to a new date, which will be communicated to teams once clubs finish the formalization of registration process.” reads the statement.
The statement further clarified that clubs should complete their registration by November 3, 2023, and emphasized that failure to meet this new registration deadline would result in non-participation in the league.
Part of the statement reads: “We expect Optimum Corporation from all participating clubs to ensure that licensing procedure is completed on or before Friday 3rd November, 2023.
“However, clubs whose registrations are not completed before 3rd and 7th November, 2023 shall first be surcharged a line of N200,000.00 (two hundred thousand naira) only.”
As a result, the newly founded club, Inter Lagos, will not be playing until further notice.
