The Nigeria National League (NNL) has officially pushed back the closing date for the mid-season transfer window and player registration exercise for the 2025/2026 campaign. Originally slated to conclude on Saturday, January 31, the recruitment period will now remain open until Friday, February 6, 2026.
This tactical extension grants second-tier clubs an additional week to finalize their rosters and integrate new talent ahead of the highly anticipated second stanza.
Danlami Alanana, the Chief Operating Officer of the NNL, announced the revised schedule on Friday, noting that the league management acted in response to widespread requests from participating teams. Club executives successfully argued for more time to complete administrative formalities and logistical requirements during this critical rebuilding phase. Alanana emphasized that only organizations without outstanding debts or financial obligations to the league body may utilize this window to bolster their squads.
The decision aligns with the league’s broader strategy to enhance competition and professional standards across all four conferences. By allowing teams extra time to secure key targets, the NNL aims to ensure a higher quality of football when the season resumes next month. The second stanza is officially scheduled to kick off on February 14, 2026, with a full slate of 17 matches across the country marking the return of league action.
In his briefing to the NNL media department, Danlami Alanana clarified the regulatory basis for the shift: “We had to now shift the deadline from Saturday the 31st of January to Friday 6th February, 2026 which aligns with the provisions of the governing rules and regulations.”
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