The Nigeria National League (NNL) has entered a new chapter, scrapping the long-standing Super 8 playoff and unveiling fresh incentives to drive competition in the 2025/2026 season.

At the heart of the changes is a groundbreaking deal with BetPawa that will see players and officials rewarded with a direct cash bonus for every victory, Footballrover reports.

BetPawa bonus changes the game

NFF President Ibrahim Gusau confirmed during the league’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Kaduna that BetPawa has joined the NNL as a major sponsor.

Under the new arrangement, 20 registered players and 5 club officials will each receive ₦56,000 within an hour of every match won.

— “This is a new step to motivate our teams,” Gusau said. “For every win, all players dressed and five officials will get their match bonuses almost immediately.”

This policy marks a shift from delayed payments and will add urgency and reward to every fixture, with both teams and individuals now fighting for more than just points.

New league format replaces Super 8 in NNL

The AGM also approved sweeping reforms to the NNL’s structure. The traditional Super 8 playoff, which had been used to determine promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), has been abolished.

Instead, the new campaign will feature an abridged format split into four conferences — A, B, C and D.

The top club from each conference will gain automatic promotion to the NPFL, while a newly introduced Super 4 tournament at the end of the season will decide the overall league champion.

Any club that earns promotion but fails to participate in the Super 4 will automatically forfeit its place to the runner-up in its conference, adding extra weight to the competition.

The AGM, held at the 5th Chukker Resort in Maraban Jos, Kaduna State, rolled out several other important measures:

Only stadiums meeting the NNL’s facility standards will host matches.

Clubs must provide valid insurance cover for players and officials before registration.

Official match balls will be limited to Prostar/NNL-branded versions, with sanctions for non-compliance.

The league’s audited financials for 2024/2025 and the 2025/2026 budget were approved.

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Last Updated on September 18, 2025 12:40 am by footballrover