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Heartland FC will begin their quest for a return to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) when they host Ogbomoso-based Crown FC in their opening match of the 2026/27 Nigeria National League (NNL) at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, on Sunday, November 1.
For the Naze Millionaires, the match offers the opportunity to put two disappointing seasons behind them and give their fans renewed hope of promotion.
Under the guidance of technical director Emmanuel Amuneke, Heartland has rebuilt its team and worked on developing a competitive playing model during the preseason. The build-up included wins over Supreme Kings, Die Hard FC, Abia Comets and Bayelsa United, a 1-1 draw against Solution FC and a 2-1 defeat against the same team. They also recovered from a 2-0 defeat to Akwa United in Uyo and won the second leg friendly by the same score.
Amuneke believes the early setbacks against Enyimba and Akwa United helped the technical team assess the new players and establish a tactical direction.
“The games were to evaluate the new guys we wanted to incorporate into the team. That’s where we started to develop a scheme that we wanted to play,” he said.
The former Super Eagles winger is keen to get Heartland back into the NPFL but insists success must come through a gradual process.
“I also want us to return to the NPFL as soon as possible. But over the years, with my experience, I have come to understand that nothing in life happens without process,” he said.
Sunday’s clash will provide the first real test of that rebuilding process, with Heartland expected to use their home advantage to secure maximum points against the Ajilete Boys.
However, Amuneke knows promotion will require more than just victory at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, highlighting the need for consistency both home and away.
“We have to compete and, to do that, we can’t just rely on home form. We have to prepare ourselves to be ready for it,” he added.
With established teams like Remo Stars and Sunshine Stars also in Conference A, Heartland faces a challenging campaign that will require discipline and consistency.
While appreciating the Imolites’ expectations, Amuneke urged patience, admitting that his team still has areas to improve.
“We’re ready, but we’re also aware that we still have a lot of work to do. It’s a work in progress. We’re ready and ready to compete, but we also realize that we need to continue to look at the areas where we need to strengthen ourselves,” he said.
For the Naze Millionaires, however, the immediate task is clear: beat Crown FC, secure the first three points and make a positive statement on their promotion ambitions.
