The Secretariat of the Nationwide League One (NLO) has officially announced the zonal play-offs into the Division Two (U-19 Youth League), scheduled to hold from September 10 to September 17, 2025, across six geo-political zones of the federation.

 

This highly anticipated competition will determine which youth clubs from the states will secure promotion into NLO Division Two (U-19 category). Both winners and runners-up from each state’s league will battle it out in zonal centers, with only one club from each venue earning promotion.

 

 Confirmed Play-Off Venues and Groupings:

South-South / South-East Zones

• Ikom (Cross River):

• Winners: Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom

• Runners-Up: Bayelsa, Rivers

• Benin City (Edo State):

• Winners: Delta, Edo, Bayelsa

• Runners-Up: Anambra, Oyo

• Ginger Stadium, Umuahia (Abia):

• Winners: Imo, Enugu

• Runners-Up: Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom

• Abakaliki (Ebonyi):

• Winners: Anambra

• Runners-Up: Abia, Enugu, Cross River

• Eket (Akwa Ibom):

• Winners: Cross River, Abia, Rivers

• Runners-Up: Imo

 

South-West Zone

• Ago Iwoye (Ogun):

• Winners: Osun, Lagos, Ekiti

• Runners-Up: Ondo

• Ileogbo (Osun):

• Winners: Oyo

• Runners-Up: Lagos, Edo, Ogun

• Ondo State Venue (TBD):

• Winners: Edo, Ogun

• Runners-Up: Ekiti, Osun, Delta

 

North-West / North-Central / North-East Zones

• ABU Zaria (Kaduna):

• Winners: Kano, Niger, Katsina

• Runners-Up: Plateau, FCT, Sokoto

• Jos (Plateau):

• Winners: Bauchi, Taraba, Benue

• Runners-Up: Nasarawa, Katsina

• ATBS (Location TBD):

• Winners: Plateau, Taraba, Yobe

• Runners-Up: Borno, Gombe

• Gaginya Stadium (Sokoto):

• Winners: Kaduna, Kebbi

• Runners-Up: Zamfara, Katsina, FCT

• Bwari (FCT):

• Winners: Nasarawa, Kogi

• Runners-Up: Kwara, Benue, Niger

• Bahango Stadium (Niger):

• Winners: FCT, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kwara

• Runners-Up: Kebbi, Kogi

• Maiduguri (Borno):

• Winners: Adamawa

• Runners-Up: Yobe, Kano, Bauchi

• August 27 Stadium (Yobe):

• Winners: Borno, Gombe

• Runners-Up: Jigawa, Taraba, Adamawa Participation Guidelines

• Each State must present both the winner and runner-up of its league.

• Only players licensed through the NLO Secretariat are eligible.

• No licenses will be processed outside the Secretariat.

• Participating clubs must also pay a registration fee at the venue.

• All States must submit representatives by Friday, September 5, 2025.

• Fixtures at venues will only be released after all requirements are met.

• Only the winner from each zonal venue will gain promotion into NLO Division Two (U-19 Youth League).

The NLO Secretariat encourages all state FAs, coaches, clubs, and officials to adhere strictly to the conditions to ensure smooth competition across all centers.

 

With fierce regional rivalries and promising young talents on display, the play-offs promise to deliver excitement, development, and the future stars of Nigerian football.