NPFL: Beyond Limits, Ikorodu City grab historic promotion as Nasarawa, El-Kanemi Warriors make impressive return

Ikorodu City FC have been promoted to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) for the first time in their history, Soccernet.ng reports.

They are joined by Beyond Limits (Remo Stars Academy), Nasarawa United, and El-Kanemi Warriors.

The four teams secured promotion to the NPFL from the Nigeria National League (NNL) play-offs held in Enugu. Nasarawa United and El-Kanemi Warriors are returning to the top division.

The teams clinched the top two spots in the Northern and Southern Conferences of the NNL.

In the Northern Conference, Nasarawa United of Lafia beat Sporting Supreme 2-1, finishing first with nine points. El-Kanemi Warriors defeated Sokoto United 4-1 to take second place with six points.

Both Nasarawa United and El-Kanemi Warriors were relegated from the NPFL last year after finishing bottom of the league's Group A but they have bounced back impressively at the first time of asking.

In the Southern Conference, Beyond Limits topped the group with seven points after a 1-0 win over Inter Lagos. Ikorodu City beat Madiba FC 2-0, securing the second promotion spot with five points.

Beyond Limits, owned by Hon. Kunle Soname, is the youth wing of Remo Stars FC, a club already established in the Nigerian top flight.

It would be recalled that earlier this year, Beyond Limits Football Academy etched its name in the history books after becoming the first African team to win the prestigious Viareggio Cup in Italy.

Each team in the playoffs played three matches, with the top two teams from each conference earning promotion to the NPFL.

Ikorodu City, established just two years ago, and Beyond Limits will be playing in the NPFL for the first time.