Two football teams from Nigeria’s Akwa Ibom State will join 18 to play in the elite division during the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) 2019/2020 season.
Joining Akwa United in the top division are Akwa Starlets which secured a historic promotion to the NPFL following their massive 3-0 win over Shooting Stars at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.
Many had tipped the Oluyole Warriors to get the promotion ticket but they were blown aside by the Akwa Ibom-based team.
The Starlets are among the four teams from the Nigeria National League (NNL) that have secured promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) following victories recorded in their play-off ties on Monday.
In another keenly-contested tie on Monday, Warri Wolves needed the lottery of penalty kicks to beat Dynamite FC 5-3 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.
Both teams had played a barren draw all through the regulation period.
Warri Wolves were relegated from the elite cadre in 2016 and they go back up after three years in the lower cadre.
Elsewhere, Jigawa Golden Stars had to hold their nerves to beat NAF FC 3-2.
Jigawa had taken a three-goal lead before their Abuja-based opponent attempted a comeback.
With Monday’s victory, Jigawa Golden Stars are returning to the NPFL after a seven-year absence.
In the last match of the day, Adamawa United did just enough to beat FRSC 2-1 to seal their promotion to the NPFL.
Adamawa United last featured in the top division in 2006 and they would be excited with this long-awaited comeback to the NPFL.
They would be taking the places of Niger Tornadoes, El-Kanemi, Yobe Desert Stars and Bendel Insurance who were relegated from the NPFL last season.
Like Akwa Ibom, Abia is another state that has two teams- Abia Warriors and Enyimba FC- in the top division.
Delta State now also boasts of two Premier League clubs as Delta Force and Warri Wolves are also in the NPFL.
Below are other teams for the 2019/2020 NPFL season
Kano pillars
Enugu Rangers
Lobi stars
Ifeanyi uba Fc
Rivers united
Katsina united
Nasarawa united
Sunshine stars
Heartland
Plateau united
Wikki Tourist
MFM FC
