In what could pass as a valedictory speech, the President of the Nigeria National League Club Owners and Managers Association, Godwin Enakhena, has sympathised with clubs relegated from the Nigeria National League, saying every team in the division encountered serious challenges during the just concluded season.

He will be making his valedictory appearance as the chairman of an NNL club this Friday in a local derby away from home as his Sporting Lagos clashes with Inter Lagos in the decider for the NNL title.

Godwin Enakhena is stepping out of the NNL back into the NPFL.

With the promotion of his club into the elite Nigerian football league, the NPFL, Enakhena will return to the calibre he had been before having earlier steered the MFM and the Sporting Lagos into the top-flight league years ago.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting in Ikenne on Thursday, Enakhena said the campaign was demanding for promoted clubs, relegated sides and teams that managed to retain their status in the league.

According to him, survival in the NNL has become increasingly difficult because of the competitiveness and financial burden associated with the division.

The NALCOMA president also expressed satisfaction with the ongoing Super Four tournament in Ikenne, describing it as an improvement on the previous Super Eight format.

He explained that the Super Four arrangement places less pressure on clubs and officials, adding that the atmosphere surrounding the competition in Ikenne has shown that a more compact format could better serve the interests of the league.

Enakhena commended members of NALCOMA for standing firmly behind the Super Four despite what he described as opposition from certain quarters.

Reflecting on the previous Super Eight competition in Asaba, the veteran sports administrator said the format was not the best way to determine promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League, noting that important lessons have been learned from the ongoing exercise in Ikenne.

He reminded clubs that the league fundamentally belongs to them and urged stakeholders to continue working collectively for the development of the NNL.

Enakhena also charged NALCOMA members to remain united, stressing that only a strong and united association can effectively protect the interests of clubs and contribute to the growth of Nigerian football.

He advised clubs that secured promotion to the NPFL to prepare adequately for life in the top flight, insisting that promotion alone should not be the ultimate ambition.

“Qualification should not just be about getting there. Clubs must prove they are strong enough to compete effectively throughout the NPFL season,” he stated.

The NALCOMA president further called for a review of the association’s constitution to allow the president of the body and one additional member to become part of the NNL Board.

According to him, club owners are the major stakeholders in the league and deserve direct representation in decisions affecting the championship.

Enakhena also urged the Nigeria National League Board to continue working towards repositioning the league, while commending sponsors and partners, including Toptier Sports Management, ProStar and Betpawa, for their support for the league.

He concluded by appreciating members for their support and commitment to the association and urged incoming executives of NALCOMA to continue strengthening the body for the benefit of all clubs.

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The leadership of the Nigeria National League Club Owners and Managers Association has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusiveness and stakeholder collaboration by ensuring a strong presence of its members at the ongoing Nigeria National League Super Four competition in Ikenne.

In a statement signed by the association’s president, Godwin Enakhena, NALCOMA revealed that it fully sponsored the hotel accommodation and feeding of its members attending the season-ending tournament.

According to Enakhena, the initiative was designed to strengthen unity among stakeholders and contribute meaningfully to the development of the domestic league system.

“This is part of our continuous effort to build a stronger and more united football ecosystem. We believe that our presence here goes beyond watching matches; it is about contributing meaningfully to the growth of the league and supporting one another as stakeholders,” he stated.

He explained that the association extended sponsorship beyond clubs directly participating in the Super Four, noting that other members were also supported to attend the event in line with NALCOMA’s vision of inclusiveness.

“This decision underscores our belief in inclusiveness and unity. Football development cannot thrive in isolation. By bringing more members here, we are creating opportunities for learning, interaction, and collective progress,” Enakhena added.

Members of the association at the competition venue also stressed the need for clubs to become more proactive in handling operational responsibilities, particularly logistics.

NALCOMA stated that the presence of its members has added vibrancy to the Super Four through increased engagement, exchange of ideas and stronger support for participating teams.

The association further pledged to sustain such initiatives as part of efforts to build a more structured, self-sustaining and competitive Nigeria National League.

Speaking on the sidelines of the competition, NALCOMA secretary Usman Ahmed Egye said the association would continue to complement the efforts of the Nigeria National League Board in promoting a sustainable football development culture.

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The family of late Nigerian football icon Adegboye Onigbinde has announced a detailed programme for his final rites, with ceremonies scheduled to take place in Ibadan and Modakeke next month.

Onigbinde, who passed away at the age of 88, will be honoured with a Service of Songs on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in Ibadan, Oyo State.

 The remembrance activities will continue on Thursday, June 25, with a novelty match featuring football legends from Oyo and Osun States.

A second Service of Songs will be held in his hometown of Modakeke, Osun State, ahead of the final burial ceremonies on Friday, June 26. The programme will conclude with a thanksgiving and outing service, followed by a reception in Modakeke.

The funeral rites come at a time when global football attention will be focused on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, adding a poignant backdrop to the farewell of one of Nigeria’s most respected tacticians.

Widely regarded as a pioneer of indigenous coaching excellence, Onigbinde built a reputation on discipline, tactical organisation, and long-term player development.

His contributions to Nigerian football earned him roles on the Confederation of African Football Technical Committee and as an instructor for both CAF and FIFA.

On the international stage, he guided Nigeria to the final of the 1984 Africa Cup of Nations, narrowly missing out on the title.

Nearly two decades later, he answered a national call once again, leading the Super Eagles to the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan under difficult circumstances.

At club level, Onigbinde also left an enduring legacy, taking Shooting Stars SC to the final of the 1984 African Cup of Champions Clubs.

Beyond football, he was a respected traditional figure, serving as the Ekerin Balogun of Modakeke, where he remained a prominent community leader.

His passing marks the end of an era, but his influence on Nigerian football development and coaching philosophy is expected to endure for generations.

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