All roads will lead to Ikenne, Ogun State, as stakeholders of the Nigeria National League (NNL) and the National League Clubs Owners and Managers Association (NALCOMA) converge for a mid-season retreat designed to take a deep, honest look at the ongoing 2025/2026 campaign ahead of the all-important second round.
The retreat has been scheduled for Ikenne, Ogun State, on Tuesday January 27gh, 2026.
The retreat, which brings together NNL leadership, NALCOMA executives, club Chairmen, Managers, referees’ representatives and key partners, is expected to serve as a strategic pause in the season.
It’s a moment to review what has been achieved so far, what has gone wrong, and what must be fixed to ensure a stronger, fairer and more commercially viable second stanza of the league.
At the top of the agenda is refereeing, an issue that has generated intense debate across centres since the opening weeks of the season.
In Ikenne, match officials’ performances, consistency in decision-making and the need for improved welfare and training will be discussed frankly. Stakeholders are expected to agree on practical steps to raise officiating standards and restore full confidence in the integrity of NNL matches.
Another major focus of the retreat will be the BetPawa partnership and other commercial deals tied to the league.
With the second round approaching, NNL and NALCOMA are set to review the impact of the BetPawa deal on clubs, players and league operations, assess areas of improvement and explore how to maximise its benefits for all stakeholders.
Discussions will also extend to potential new partnerships and sponsorships that can strengthen the financial base of the league and improve club sustainability.
Beyond refereeing and commercial matters, the Ikenne retreat will also address a range of related issues affecting the smooth running of the league. These include logistics, security, match organisation, player welfare, medical standards, media engagement and the overall image of the NNL as Nigeria’s most competitive second-tier league.
For NALCOMA, the retreat is a platform to amplify the voice of clubs and ensure that their challenges and suggestions are clearly heard by the league organisers. And for the NNL, it is an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to transparency, professionalism and continuous improvement.
As the first round ends and the race for promotion and survival heats up, the outcomes of the Ikenne retreat are expected to shape the tone of the second half of the season.
With critical decisions to be made and key reforms on the table, stakeholders agree that this mid-season gathering could prove pivotal in defining how the 2025/2026 NNL campaign will ultimately be remembered.
NALCOMA, being led by it’s President, Godwin Enakhena, championed the call for the retreat so that clubs can rub minds with the NNL board on how best to attract bigger and better sponsors for the league.
