Sunshine Stars Technical Adviser Duke Udi has publicly endorsed the proposed 20-team format for the Northern and Southern Conferences of the Nigeria National League (NNL) ahead of the 2026/2027 season, calling it a welcome development that will boost competition and excitement in the second-tier football league. Speaking exclusively to Completesports.com on Wednesday, 19 August 2026, Udi expressed optimism that the new structure, if ratified at the NNL Board’s Annual General Meeting in Owerri over the weekend, would lead to 38 rounds of matches per conference and two promotion spots from each zone. He emphasized that the straight league format would bring out the best in Nigerian domestic football, particularly at the NNL level.
The 50-year-old former Nigeria international, who played for clubs including Grasshoppers of Switzerland, Slovan Bratislava, and Hapoel Ironi Rishon, believes the revamped structure could revive the league’s golden era. He recalled how media coverage during the 1970s to 2000s helped produce legendary players like Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha, Segun Odegbami, Adokiye Amiesimaka, Rashidi Yekini, Finidi George, and Nwankwo Kanu. Udi urged the media to play a more positive and supportive role in promoting the NNL to ensure its growth and sustainability.
Beyond supporting structural changes in the league, Udi is focused on leading Sunshine Stars back to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). The Akure-based club has received full backing from the Ondo State Government and its Chairman, Honourable Divine Ogbonnaya, who also serves as the Chairman of the Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA). During the Gold Cup Preseason Tournament in Abeokuta, Udi highlighted that Ogbonnaya had personally attended training sessions and matches, and has consistently paid players’ salaries in full since the end of the 2025/2026 season.
Udi noted that the team’s only remaining need is a better vehicle for away matches, and he confirmed that Ogbonnaya has promised to discuss the matter with Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to secure a new bus before the start of the 2026/2027 season. This support, combined with intensified pre-season preparations, has given Udi confidence that this could be the year Sunshine Stars return to the top flight. As he stated, “This is my third time at the club, and I believe it’s the right time to take Sunshine Stars back to the Premier League.” With strong leadership and renewed hope, the club is poised for a competitive campaign in the upcoming NNL season.
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