By Victor Kanayo
Four clubs – Heartland, Sporting Lagos, Kano Pillars and Katsina United have now gained promotion to fill up the vacant positions in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL).
Aside Sporting Lagos, the other had regularly tested NPL action.
Infact, Heartland, Pillars and United played in the NPL until end of 2021/22 League season before they were relegated to the lower League known as the Nigeria National League (NNL).
With Pillars on six points and Kastina United on three points prior to the last game, the former needed an outright win of at least two goals to pick one of the Northern Conference’s tickets.
Pillars on the other hand needed just a point from the final game against Kastina United to progress irrespective of the other game’s result.
Kastina United did their best, beating Kano Pillars by a lone goal in the game.
In the other game between EFCC FC and DMD FC, the crime fighter’s team who needed at least a one nil win to progress, capitulated 2-0.
The results from both games meant both Pillars and Kastina United have secured passage to the Premier League with six points each.
Kano Pillars, former League winners and continental beaters, with a better goal difference finished top of the Northern Conference table to pick one of the tickets ahead of Friday’s NNL playoff final.