Chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), George Aluo, has praised the standard of officiating at the ongoing 2025 NNL Super 8 tournament in Asaba, Delta State, while renewing calls for corporate sponsorship.
Speaking at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Aluo expressed satisfaction with the competitive quality of the matches and the professionalism displayed by match officials. He highlighted that only the best-performing referees from the regular season were selected for the Super 8.
“These young referees have done a great job. Many of them earned monthly awards during the season, and they’ve justified their selection with solid performances here,” he said. “I expect them to maintain this level until the final on July 12.”
Aluo also praised the intensity of the tournament, noting that the Super 8 offers a platform for group leaders to prove their readiness for promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). He pointed to matches such as Osun United versus Crown FC and Warri Wolves’ encounter with Kun Khalifat as proof of the league’s growing standard.
He stated that teams recently promoted from the NNL have held their own in the NPFL, citing the success stories of Ikorodu City and Abakaliki FC.
“The NNL is building a winning mentality. Teams promoted from here are now making waves at the top level. That tells you we are on the right path,” Aluo said.
The NNL Chairman acknowledged challenges in implementing reforms, particularly around promoting transparency. He mentioned that live streaming of matches and pre-season coaching programmes are already making an impact.
“Reform is not always welcomed at first, but clubs are beginning to accept the culture of fair play and openness,” he said, adding that NFF President Ibrahim Gusau watched the matches live from Cairo, thanks to the new streaming arrangements.
Aluo described Gusau as the league’s strongest supporter and used the occasion to appeal to companies to invest in the NNL.
“The biggest sponsor we have is the NFF President. He backs every league tier. Now, we need the corporate sector to join us. Let them sponsor the referees directly—we will provide their account numbers to ensure transparency,” Aluo said.
The Super 8 continues this week as teams push for top-tier promotion, while NNL leadership looks to strengthen the league's future through innovation and accountability.
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