Heartland FC head coach Emmanuel Amuneke says the club is fully prepared to fight their way back to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) in the coming season.
The Owerri-based side, nicknamed the Naze Millionaires, were relegated from the top-flight last term and will now compete in the Nigeria National League (NNL) Southern Conference Group A.
Their group features Crown FC, Edel FC, Sunshine Stars, E-World FC, Inter Lagos, Smart City FC, Godswill Akpabio United FC, Abia Comets and Beyond Limits FA. Only the first-place team will secure automatic promotion to the NPFL.
Speaking after the draws were announced, Amuneke expressed confidence that his rebuilt squad can outclass their rivals and reclaim their NPFL status.
“We have been expecting the draw and with what we have done since June when the team resumed rebuilding, we are ready to compete,” the former Nigeria international told the club’s media.
“It is a welcome development and we respect all the teams in our group because they deserve to be there.”
Heartland, one of Nigeria’s historic clubs with continental pedigree, will begin their promotion fight on November 8 as the 2025/26 NNL season kicks off nationwide.
