“We Survived the Hurdles” — Crown FC Coach Ayodeji Ayeni Praises Team Spirit Despite NNL Promotion Setback

Crown FC’s head coach Ayodeji Ayeni has showered praise on his team following their spirited campaign in the just-concluded Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 playoffs, despite missing out on promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

The Ajilete Warriors fell short of their top-flight dream after losing their final group game to Warri Wolves, finishing the playoffs with just one point from three matches.

🗣️ “We Started With Purpose…”

Speaking to Oyo State News, Coach Ayeni reflected on the journey with pride, acknowledging the challenges overcome during the league season.

“We started the season with a purpose: to qualify for the Super 8. We came here for the ticket to the Premier League, but that wasn’t achieved,” he said.

“Our overall performance has been wonderful. I want to congratulate everyone who started this journey together from day one. The journey was tough, but we were able to survive the hurdles to this stage.”

⚽ Opinion: Crown FC's Grit Deserves Applause — The Foundation Is There

While they didn't secure promotion, Crown FC’s campaign cannot be viewed as a failure. Their resilience, team unity, and coaching stability under Ayeni laid a strong foundation that could blossom into success next season.

Progress isn’t always about trophies or promotions — sometimes it's about proving that a club can fight, grow, and dream again.

With proper reinforcements and lessons learned, Crown FC may return stronger in the next NNL season.

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