NPFL: Heartland, Akwa United join Lobi, Sunshine in NNL

Despite winning their game against Akwa United 2-1 in the last game of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League season, Heartland joined their opponent, Sunshine Stars and Lobi Stars in the lower division of the domestic club football.
Heartland, who got relegated at the end of last season, returned to the elite division after taking over the slot of Beyond Limits, who secured promotion from the NNL but failed to maintain the slot as the team is now back in the lower rung of the league.
With their destiny no longer in their hands, the home team played the game of their life against another team, Akwa United, hoping to escape relegation, winning the final game of the season 2-1 with the hope of results from other centres working in their favour.
However, a goal in the second half by El-Kanemi Warriors condemned both Heartland and Akwa United to the second division with the Maiduguri based side defeating already relegated Sunshine Stars 1-0.
Niger Tornadoes came up tops in a five-goal thriller against Kano Pillars, winning the game 3-2 while it was a total whitewash for erstwhile defending champion, Rangers in Ibadan, losing 5-1 against home team, Shooting Stars, as Rivers United defeated Nasarawa United 2-1.
After beating Ikorodu City to the final continental spot through the league, Abia Warriors succumbed to a 3-2 defeat against the Oga Boys at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos as Katsina United beat Federation Cup finalist, Kwara United, 1-0 in their final home game of the campaign while Bayelsa United ended their season with a 3-0 win over the champions, Remo Stars.