Owerri‑based Kun Khalifat FC secured their place in the 2025 NNL Super 8 after a sturdy 1–1 draw against Godswill Akpabio United at Dan Anyiam Stadium, confirming qualification with a match to spare. They topped Southern Conference Group B, showcasing consistency and grit.
The Super 8 playoffs, scheduled for 5 to 12 July at Stephen Keshi International Stadium in Asaba, will award four NPFL promotion tickets. The Southern qualifiers Kun Khalifat, Warri Wolves, Osun United and Crown FC will be joined by four northern challengers, including Wikki Tourists and Yobe Desert Stars.
Assistant coach Ikechukwu Okereke, speaking to Complete Sports, praised his side’s mental toughness: "The regular NNL season was tough… but God… saw us through. […] We’re well prepared and just waiting for the kick‑off", affirming their readiness to dog‑fight for promotion in Asaba.
Kun Khalifat’s strong run included topping Group B with 37 points from 19 matches. Known as "The Pride of Imo State", the club, founded in 2020, plays home matches at Dan Anyiam Stadium. With eight sides battling across one week, Asaba is set to host intense clashes. Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and NNL Chairman George Aluo have promised logistical support and a festival of football excitement.
The stage is set pressure is high and dreams of top‑flight football hang in the balance.
Editorial
We see Kun Khalifat’s journey to the Super 8 as emblematic of what ambition and planning can achieve in Nigerian football. Starting from humble beginnings in 2020 and rising through the Nationwide League to challenge for NPFL promotion in just five years highlights the power of good management and community support.
We note that the club’s ability to top their group with unwavering resolve speaks volumes. Securing 37 points from 19 games shows not only tactical discipline but a culture of winning that must be applauded.
Our focus now turns to Asaba. The Super 8 is a pressure‑cooker only four will make it through. Kun Khalifat must hold their nerve against teams with longer histories in Nigeria’s second tier. Warri Wolves and Osun United are proven, while Barnau FC and others bring their own hunger.
We believe Ikechukwu Okereke’s public expression of faith in divine guidance is inspiring, but fairytales count for little on the pitch. Preparation is key physical fitness, mental sharpness, and in‑game adaptability will matter most over the weeklong tournament.
We encourage all stakeholders football boards, sponsors, local governments to rally behind these clubs. Investment in infrastructure, youth academies and coaching will ensure that this kind of rise isn’t a one‑off, but a pathway open to many more community clubs.
If Kun Khalifat succeed, they do more than earn promotion they inspire a blueprint for growth: vision, faith, quality coaching, and bold ambition.
Did You Know?
- Kun Khalifat FC earned promotion to the NNL only in 2024, after swapping slots with FC One Rocket.
- The Super 8 tournament format was reinstated in 2023 after previous seasons used a Super 4 playoff system.
- Dan Anyiam Stadium, Kun Khalifat’s home ground, has a capacity of 12,000.
- Founded in 1979 as the National Division I, the NNL currently features 46 teams across four conferences.
- In the 2024‑25 NPFL season, Remo Stars became the first South‑West club in 25 years to win the top-flight title.
