Race for NWFL Premiership unveiled as 2026 Championship draw set up Calabar showdown
The stage is set for an intense battle for promotion after the draw for the 2026 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Championship paired 16 ambitious clubs in their quest for a place in the top flight.
The second-tier championship will take place in Calabar, Cross River State, from July 9 to 16, with teams divided into four groups of four. At the end of the tournament, only two clubs will earn promotion to the 2026/27 NWFL Premiership.
Group A features Delta Babes, DreamStars Ladies FC, Rosaria Victrix FC, and First Mahi Babes, while Group B consists of Pelican Stars, Gallant Queens, Ikukuoma Queens, and Moje Queens.
In Group C, Rangers Women FC, Fortress Ladies FC, Wazbak International Sports Academy, and Unification FC will battle for supremacy, while Group D pits Imo Striker Queens, Kwara Ladies, Chosen Generation Angels FC, and Ghetto Tigers against one another.
The championship will follow a knockout pathway after the group stage, with the winners of each group advancing to the semi-finals. The two victorious semi-finalists will automatically secure promotion to the NWFL Premiership, while also booking their places in the championship final to determine the overall winners.
The stakes extend beyond promotion, as the competition will also determine the fate of the bottom-placed teams. The last-placed side in each group will enter a relegation playoff, with two clubs ultimately dropping to the third tier of Nigerian women's football.
Action gets underway on Saturday, July 11, across the U.J. Esuene Stadium and St. Patrick Stadium in Calabar.
At the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Delta Babes will open Group A against First Mahi Babes at 9:00 a.m., before DreamStars Ladies face Rosaria Victrix. Group B fixtures will follow in the afternoon, with Pelican Stars taking on Ikukuoma Queens at 2:00 p.m., while Moje Queens square off against Gallant Queens.
Meanwhile, St. Patrick Stadium will host the opening Group C clashes as Rangers Women FC meet Unification FC before Fortress Ladies battle Wazbak International Sports Academy. The day's fixtures conclude with Group D encounters, where Ghetto Tigers face Kwara Ladies, while Imo Striker Queens take on Chosen Generation Angels FC.
With promotion to the elite division on the line and survival equally at stake, Calabar is set to host a week of high-stakes women's football as the country's best second-tier clubs battle for a place among Nigeria's football elite.
Join the Savid News channel on WhatsApp:
