Heartland FC defeated Sporting Lagos 2-1 on Wednesday night at the Stephen Keshi International Stadium, Asaba to secure promotion to next season’s Nigeria Premier League.
The Owerri-based club needed a draw against Sporting in their final Group B game to clinch the remaining promotion ticket in the group, but had to come from a goal down to win the encounter.
Kalu Chukwuemeka scored the opener for the already qualified Sporting Lagos side on 15 minutes of play.
Heartland rallied round to score twice and win the fiercely contested battle.
Meanwhile, in the other Southern Conference Group B fixture played simultanously at the Ogwashi-Uku stadium, Abeokuta Stormers FC walloped FC One Rocket of Uyo 4-0. However, the win was not enough for Stormers FC to pick the Premier League ticket.
The Naze Millionaires joined Sporting Lagos, Kano Pillars and Katsina United in securing promotion to the NPL.
They will trade tackles with Northern Conference winners Kano Pillars in the final of the Nigeria National League Super Eight playoffs on Friday July 7 at the Stephen Keshi International Stadium, Asaba.
The four promoted sides will replace the quartet of El-kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri, Nasarawa United of Lafia, Wikki Tourists of Bauchi and Dakkada FC of Uyo, who were relegated from the NPFL at the end of the 2022/23 abridged season.
Teams promoted from the NNL to the NPL:
- Kano Pillars FC
- Katsina Utd
- Heartland FC
- Sporting Lagos
20 Teams for the 2023/2024 NPL Season:
- Enyimba FC
- Kano Pillars
- Enugu Rangers
- Akwa United
- Lobi Stars
- Rivers United
- Katsina United
- Sunshine Stars
- Abia Warriors
- Heartland Fc
- Sporting Lagos
- Plateau United
- Doma Utd
- Remo Stars
- Bendel Insurance
- Shooting Stars
- Gombe Utd
- Niger Tornadoes
- Bayelsa Utd
- Kwara Utd
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