The draw for the 2026 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Championship has been concluded, setting the stage for an exciting battle among 16 clubs vying for promotion to the NWFL Premiership.
The second-tier championship, scheduled to hold in Calabar, Cross River State, from July 9 to 16, 2026, will see the participating teams compete in four groups of four as they chase one of the two available promotion tickets to the elite division.
Group A features Delta Babes, DreamStars Ladies FC, Rosaria Victrix FC, and First Mahi Babes, while Group B is made up of Pelican Stars, Gallant Queens, Ikukuoma Queens, and Moje Queens.
Rangers Women FC, Fortress Ladies FC, Wazbak Int’l Sports Academy, and Unification FC will compete in Group C, with Group D comprising Imo Striker Queens, Kwara Ladies, Chosen Generation Angels FC, and Ghetto Tigers.
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The championship serves as the promotion playoff for Nigeria’s second-tier women’s league, with the winners from the four groups progressing to the semifinals, where they will battle for places in the final and the two available promotion tickets to the NWFL Premiership for the 2026/27 season.
While the top-performing sides will compete for promotion, the bottom-placed teams from the four groups will face a relegation battle as they fight to avoid the drop, with two teams set to be relegated to the third tier of Nigerian women’s football.
The opening fixtures will kick off on Saturday, July 11, with matches scheduled across the U.J. Esuene Stadium and St. Patrick Stadium in Calabar.
At the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Group A action will see Delta Babes FC take on First Mahi Babes at 9:00am, while DreamStars Ladies FC face Rosaria Victrix FC. Later in the day, Group B fixtures will see Pelican Stars FC battle Ikukuoma Queens at 2:00pm, with Moje Queens FC meeting Gallant Queens.
At the St. Patrick Stadium, Group C will begin with Rangers Women FC facing Unification FC at 9:00am, followed by Fortress Ladies FC against Wazbak Int’l Sports Academy. The afternoon session will feature Group D fixtures as Ghetto Tigers FC take on Kwara Ladies FC at 2:00pm, while Imo Striker Queens face Chosen Generation Angels FC.
With the nation’s top second-tier clubs set to converge in Calabar, the 2026 NWFL Championship promises a week of competitive action as teams battle for promotion, survival, and a place among Nigeria’s top women’s football clubs.
