Abakaliki Utd, a metamorphose of Enugu Coal City Utd has been handed the prestigious honour of staring in the 2024/2025 Nigeria National League, NNL Star Match which ushers in the new season, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

The club will welcome Madiba FC of Lagos in the new season opening cracker billed for the lush green Abakaliki Township Stadium, come November 30.

This is even as the organisers of the domestic second tier league have confirmed November 30, as the official kick off date for the nation's acclaimed strongest league.

Nigeria National League, NNL, clubs have thus been charged to expedite their preparations ahead of the commencement of the 2024/2025 football season, with a strong reminder to the clubs that the November 30th commencement date remains sacrosanct. 

This is the high point of an exhaustive Annual General Meeting in Bauchi in September between the Board of the NNL and the clubs where it was agreed that the new season will kick off on November 30th, 2024.

Nigeria National League Club Owners and Managers Association, NALCOMA,  have again, reminded the clubs that the date agreed upon will not change, according to the NNL Board.

After the adjustment of the draw for the new season in Ikenne, Ogun state during the seminar for Coaches and Media Officers of clubs, the 36 clubs have stepped up preparations, and NALCOMA 1st Vice President, Engineer Auwal Musa Gotal commended the processes.

Gotal charged clubs to respect the deadline set by the NNL Board on the League, for the betterment of all the clubs. 

Sporting Lagos are drawn in Group A alongside, Solution FC, First Bank FC, Gateway FC, Kun Khalifa FC, Abakiliki FC, Madiba FC, ABF FC, Godswill Akpabio FC, Osun United and Calabar Rovers.

Smart City tops the list of the 11 clubs in Group B that also has Edel FC, 1472 FC, Beyond Limits, Warri Wolves,  Ijele FC, Inter Lagos, Crown FC, Dakkada FC, Igbajo FC and Abia Comets.

The Norther Confederation equally have two groups, but with seven clubs each. Gombe United, Sokoto United FC, Zamfara United FC, Barau FC, Mighty Jets FC, Wikki Tourist FC and 
Mailantarki FC will ay in Group C.

In Group D are Doma United, Kebbi United, Basira FC, Adamawa United, Kada Warriors FC, Yobe Desert Stars and Sporting Supreme FC.

The 2024/2025 NNL season is billed to kick-off on Saturday, November 30, with a Star Match between Abakiliki United against Madiba FC of Lagos at the Abakiliki Township Stadium.