Heartland FC of Owerri has been relegated to the Nigeria National League (NNL) for the third time in their history, marking a devastating end to their 2022–2023 Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) campaign. The former Nigerian champions suffered a humiliating 4-1 loss against Remo Stars on Wednesday in an NPFL match-day 36 game in Ikenne, as reported by PUNCH Sports Extra.
Heartland FC had returned to the elite division but were relegated back to the lower league a season after gaining promotion. They needed a win against Remo Stars to survive relegation, being 19th on the NPFL table with 35 points. However, Reno Stars, Stanley Joseph crushed the visitors hopes, scoring a brace plus two goals from Frank Mawuena and Jibe Fatokun.
Also, there was the factor of a managerial crisis that bedevilled the team earlier in the campaign, with Kennedy Boboye taking temporary charge for six games before Christian Obi was reinstated by the Governor of the State, Senator Hope Uzodinma in November 2023.
The club’s fans are reeling from the news, as Heartland FC has a rich history in Nigerian football. The team won four consecutive league titles from 1987 to 1990 and reached the finals of the African Cup of Champions Clubs in 1988. However, the team has experienced a decline in recent years, with this relegation marking their third stint in the NNL.
The relegation will have significant implications for the team, including a significant reduction in revenue and the potential loss of key players. The team’s management will need to regroup and reassess their strategy to ensure a swift return to the top flight.
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