NNL: Heartland top Group B4, qualify for Super 8 promotion playoff

Five-time Nigerian champions Heartland have secured their place in the 2023 Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 playoff slated for the end of the season.

With the NNL 2023 season, divided into two conferences: Northern and Southern, which comprises a further eight sub-groups: A1, A2, A3, A4, B1, B2, B3 and B4 - four groups per conference, only winners of the eight groups will stand a chance at promotion.

The Owerri club in their penultimate game of the season, secured a 2-1 victory over Ibom Youths, to win their group in the second division.

Heartland had opened the scoring early in the first half, thanks to a close-range finish by Patrick Nwogbaga, before Izuchukwu Abugo made a two before half-time.

Ibom Youths then managed to half the scores, as they converted a penalty late in the game, however, it was to be but a consolation goal.

Until their 18th-place showing and relegation in 2016, the Naze Millionaires were one of two teams in the top flight that had never been relegated.

In October 2017, Heartland concluded the NNL season, as winners of the Southern Conference, gaining automatic promotion back up to the NPFL, after just a year away.

Having qualified for the Super 8, the Owerri club stand a good chance of repeating their success of 2017, by gaining immediate promotion back to the NPFL.

The Super 8 promotion playoff will decide which four of the eight teams (the top-ranked 4 in the playoff) will gain promotion to the NPFL.