A group identified as the NLO Progressives Club Owners Chairmen has formally appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to reconsider the return of the home-and-away format in the 2026 Nationwide League One (NLO) season, citing mounting financial and operational challenges for grassroots clubs.

In a memo titled “Formal Appeal: Mitigating the Impact of the Home-and-Away Format on NLO Clubs,” the concerned club owners acknowledged the league’s ambition to “revitalise competitiveness” through a traditional home-and-away structure but warned that the policy could threaten the survival of many amateur sides.

According to the group, clubs are now required to pay a ₦600,000 registration and participation fee in addition to covering expenses for at least 15 away fixtures during the season.

For amateur teams operating on lean budgets, the cost of transporting, feeding, and accommodating a 30-man squad across long distances is described as “unsustainable.” The memo stressed that unlike professional league sides, NLO clubs often lack access to comfortable travel arrangements, exposing players to grueling road trips on poor infrastructure.

The group warned that such conditions could lead to severe player fatigue, diminished quality of play, and increased risk of injuries.

The club owners also raised concerns over what they described as a volatile “must-win-at-home” culture prevalent at grassroots level. Small stadiums, they argued, often lack the capacity to effectively manage hostile home crowds, placing psychological pressure on visiting teams and match officials.

While the NLO has suggested clubs would benefit from gate revenues under the home-and-away system, the group countered that many grassroots supporters are accustomed to minimal or free entry. In some northern states, match tickets reportedly sell for as low as ₦100 to encourage attendance—an amount they say rarely offsets hosting expenses.

To safeguard the financial health of grassroots football, the group proposed several measures:
    •    A return to the zonal tournament format played at neutral, approved venues to drastically reduce travel and logistics costs.
    •    If the stadium-based home-and-away structure must remain, strict geographical zoning to ensure no club travels more than three to four hours for fixtures, with a recommendation that all teams play away from their immediate home base to ensure fairness.
    •    Travel subsidies from the NFF to cushion transportation costs, described as the primary “killer” of amateur clubs.
    •    Enhanced media visibility through AI-powered cameras and the NLO TV app to create a centralised sponsorship pool, with participation grants distributed to clubs.

The club owners insisted that refining the league’s structure would protect grassroots football while maintaining competitive standards.

Reacting to the memo, Chief Operating Officer of the Nationwide League One, Olushola Ogunnowo, dismissed the appeal and questioned the legitimacy of the group.

“I am not criticizing the association, but the move was wrong in the sense that the statutes provided for the process,” Ogunnowo said, emphasizing that league matters are addressed at the Annual General Meeting where each state sends a representative to deliberate on issues affecting clubs.

He added that the NLO does not recognize the existence of the NLO Progressives Club Owners Chairmen.

“Some of them have been at the forefront of demanding the home-and-away format, blackmailing the league and accusing us of benefiting from the stadium format without helping the clubs. Now they are the same set asking us to revert to the old order,” he said.

Ogunnowo maintained that the league would continue to act in what it considers the best interest of the competition.

“In NLO, we will continue to do the best things that will benefit the league, not the interest of a few,” he concluded.

The development sets the stage for further debate within Nigeria’s grassroots football structure as stakeholders weigh financial sustainability against competitive reform ahead of the 2026 season.