NFF Directs Continuation Of Super 8 As 3SC, Others Boycott

The Emergency Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, headed by NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, at the weekend announced that it had directed the commencement of the Super 8 tournament of the Nigeria National League to produce four teams to be promoted to the Nigeria Professional Football League for the 2018/19 Season.

The NNL insists all eight clubs must be automatically promoted to the topflight rather than compete at the play-offs to produce four teams that would be promoted to the NPFL. Six teams namely Insurance, 3SC, Remo Stars, Delta Force, Kada Stars and Kogi United have boycotted the play-offs with only Gombe United and Real Stars agreeing to play in the Super 8.

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The Emergency Committee said it took the decision after careful consideration of the relevant rules and regulations, contemporary best practice and what is obtainable internationally.

Pinnick said, “I am imploring the various club owners and other investors, promoters and facilitators, as well as the administrators of the two Leagues, to see the current situation as a consequence of the special circumstances that we found ourselves and consider the best interest of Nigerian football.

“Nobody foresaw these special circumstances. Yet, it is only by obeying the rules and regulations, and being guided by global best practices, that we can move forward. The NFF Emergency Committee endorses the resolution of the expanded meeting that the best eight teams in the NNL should contest the Super 8 tournament, from which the best four teams will be promoted to the Nigeria Professional Football League for the 2018/19 Season.”

Pinnick stated that the decision to endorse the NPFL proposal of August 30 to end the League at Week 24, should be seen for what it is – a measure to deal with an exceptional circumstance to meet up with the deadline for submission of Nigeria’s flagbearer in the CAF Champions League, and the need to redraft the league calendar from August to May as directed by the Confederation of African Football.

“We are calling on stakeholders to see these decisions as the only way of getting out of the special circumstances and forge ahead.”