All is now set for the 2021/2022 Nationwide League One (NLO) season with 153 clubs across the country ready to throw their hats into the ring.
NLO is the third-tier professional league in Nigeria with three divisions (NLO 1,2,3) for clubs.
The NLO 1 is the first division of the league and normally the last stage for teams to qualify for the country’s second-tier league; Nigeria National League (NNL).
While clubs in NLO are most often owned by private individuals or organizations, Lagos State with 38 clubs has the highest number of teams participating in the league.
The league which has now returned back to its home and away format will run from March 16 to early September tentatively.
Ultimately, after a regular season and playoff, a total number of four teams are expected to qualify for the second-tier league.
With the innovation of the NLO TV, where ‘selected’ matches will be streamed live, Barrister Seyi Akinwumi, the first Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is expected to kick off the league with a Lagos derby game between Smart City FC and Gbagada FC at Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.