NWFL Premiership

Top-level women's soccer league in Nigeria

Football league

NWFL Premiership

Founded| 1990
Country|  Nigeria
Confederation| CAF
Number of clubs| 12
Level on pyramid| 1
Relegation to| Nigerian Women Football League Championship
Domestic cup(s)| Nigerian Women's Cup
Champions Shield
International cup(s)| CAF W-Champions League
Current champions| Bayelsa Queens (6th title)
(2024-25)
Most championships| Rivers Angels & Pelican Stars (7 titles)
Website| The NWFL
Current: 2025–26 NWFL Premiership

The NWFL Premiership (formerly Nigeria Women Premier League) is the top-level league for women's association football in Nigeria.[1][2] It is the women's equivalent of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) for male players.[3][4] The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) organizes the Nigeria Women Premier League and the Nigeria Women Pro-league. In November 2017, Aisha Falode was elected chairperson of the league board, and was officially designated in January 2017.[5]

## History

[edit]

Women's football in Nigeria started in 1978 with the foundation of the NIFFOA (Nigeria Female Football Organising Association), renamed NIFFPA (Nigeria Female Football Proprietors Associations) in 1979, and joined by clubs like Jegede Babes, Ufuoma Babes, Larry Angels, Kakanfo Babes and others. The first championship was organised by the NFA in 1990. Ufuoma Babes were dominant in the 1990s, before succumbing to Pelican Stars, who won the league between 1997 and 2002. By the 2010s, Rivers Angels became more frequent in the super tournaments, a mini-tournament held annually among the top-placed teams, to determine the overall winner of the league. Despite the high frequency of the abridged format over the years, the 2014 league season saw a straight round-robin season in determining the league winners. However, by 2015, there was a reintroduction of the group system.

Since 2015, the league has enjoyed considerable success and improvement under the auspices of Aisha Falode, and have produced several players for the national team and cadet teams, with more than 70% of players who have been capped for the national team having played in the NWFL.[6][7] Since 2021, the league winners qualifies for the CAF Women's Champions League.

In the 2024 season, Edo Queens became the newest champions with their debut league win.[8]

## Renaming

[edit]

On 5 March 2020, the Nigeria Women Football League, the governing body of professional women's association football in Nigeria, announced the re-branding of the women's league, by unveiling a new logo and renaming the three tiers of the league under the tutelage of the NWFL.

With the rebranding, the Nigeria Women Premier League is now known as the NWFL Premiership, the second-tier league known as NWFL Championship (formerly NWFL Pro-League) while the third-tier division becomes the NWFL Nationwide (formerly NWFL Amateur League).[9]

The old NWFL logo

## Format

[edit]

The women's top division league in Nigeria usually follows an abridged format with a super tournament at the end of the season. The top teams in each group (sometimes 1, 2 or 3) will form the super tournament at the end of the regular season to determine the overall winner of the league. The last placed teams are normally relegated to the second division, while promoted teams from the lower division are also admitted into the league. Despite the high frequency of the abridged format over the years, the 2014 league season saw a straight round robin season in determining the league winners, however by 2015, there was a reintroduction of the group system.

## Champions

[edit]

The list of champions and runners-ups:[10][11]

Year  | Champions  | Runners-up

|
|

1990  | Jegede Babes | [12]
1991[13] | Mande River State (River Mermaids)  |
1992  | Ufuoma Babes[14] |
1993  | Ufuoma Babes[15] |
1994  | Rivers Angels SC[4] | Jegede Babes
1995  | Ufuoma Babes[15] | Pelican Stars FC
1996  | Ufuoma Babes[15] |
1997  | Pelican Stars FC[4] |
1998  | Pelican Stars FC[4] |
1999  | Pelican Stars FC[4] | FCT Queens
2000  | Pelican Stars FC[4] | FCT Queens
2001  | Pelican Stars FC | FCT Queens
2002  | Pelican Stars FC | FCT Queens
2003  | Delta Queens FC | FCT Queens
2004  | Bayelsa Queens | Pelican Stars FC
2005  | Pelican Stars FC | Bayelsa Queens
2006  | Bayelsa Queens | Nasarawa Amazons
2007  | Bayelsa Queens | Nasarawa Amazons
2008  | Delta Queens FC[16] | Bayelsa Queens
2009  | Delta Queens FC[17] | Rivers Angels
2010  | Rivers Angels/Pelican Stars[18][19][20][A] |
2011  | Delta Queens FC[21][22] | River Angels SC
2012  | Delta Queens FC[23][24] | River Angels SC[25]
2013  | Nasarawa Amazons[26][27] | Rivers Angels
2014 | Rivers Angels[28] | Pelican Stars FC
2015 | Rivers Angels[29][30] | Bayelsa Queens
2016 | Rivers Angels[31] | Nasarawa Amazons[32]
2017 | Nasarawa Amazons | Delta Queens
2018 | Bayelsa Queens[33] | Nasarawa Amazons
2019 | Rivers Angels[34] | Confluence Queens
2020  | Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic[35]
2020–21 | Rivers Angels | Delta Queens
2021–22 | Bayelsa Queens | Nasarawa Amazons
2022–23 | Delta Queens | Bayelsa Queens
2023–24 | Edo Queens[8] | Rivers Angels
2024–25 | Bayelsa Queens | Nasarawa Amazons

## Most successful clubs

[edit]

Club | Champions | Runners-up | Winning Seasons | Runners-up Seasons

|
|
|
|

Pelican Stars FC (Calabar)  |

| 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2010[a] | 1995, 2004, 2014
Rivers Angels SC (Port Harcourt)  |

| 1994, 2010,[a] 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020–21 | 2009,2011, 2012,2013, 2023–24
Bayelsa Queens (Yenagoa)  |

| 2004, 2006, 2007, 2018, 2021–22, 2024–25 | 2005, 2008, 2015, 2022–23
Delta Queens FC (Asaba)  |

| 2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2022–23 | 2017, 2020–21
Ufuoma Babes (Warri)  |

| 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996  |

Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa)  |

| 2013, 2017 | 2006, 2007, 2016, 2018, 2021–22, 2024–25
Jegede Babes (Lagos)  |

| 1990  | 1995
Mande River State (Port Harcourt)  |

| 1991  |

Edo Queens (Benin City)  |

| 2023–24 |

1. ^ a b Shared title

## Individual honours

[edit]

### Top scorers

[edit]

Year  | Player  | Team  | Goals

|
|
|

2013  | Asisat Oshoala | Rivers Angels | 6
2014 | Amarachi Orjinma | Pelican Stars | 17
2015 | Rofiat Sule | Bayelsa Queens | 11
2016 | Rofiat Sule | Bayelsa Queens | 9
2017 | Reuben Charity | Ibom Angels | 8
Rasheedat Ajibade | FC Robo
2018 | Anam Imo | Nasarawa Amazons | 8
2019 | Anjor Mary | Bayelsa Queens | 6
2020–21 | Gift Monday | FC Robo | 10[a]
2021–22 | Gift Monday | Bayelsa Queens | 10[b]
2022–23 | Mercy Omokwu | Delta Queens | 9
2023–24 | Folashade Ijamilusi | Robo Queens | 8
2024–25 | Bolaji Olamide | Remo Stars Ladies | 15

1. ^ Regular season only
2. ^ Regular season only

### Player of the Season

[edit]

Year  | Player  | Team

|
|

2015  | Emueje Ogbiagbevha (super 6 only)  | Nasarawa Amazons[36]
2016  | Rofiat Sule | Bayelsa Queens
2017  | Rasheedat Ajibade | FC Robo
2018  | Anam Imo[37] | Nasarawa Amazons

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ There was no Super tournament this season but Pelican Stars topped group A, while Rivers Angels topped group B in the regular season

## See also

[edit]

* List of women's football clubs in Nigeria
* Nigerian Women's Cup
* Nigeria Women's Super Cup

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Onigbinde optimistic about better Women's league". Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
2. ^ "Nigeria Women Football League Incorporated". Retrieved 6 November 2014.
3. ^ "NFF wants Dame Jonathan to lead Falcons to Canada". Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
4. ^ a b c d e f "Flourishing league kicks off again". BBC. 17 March 2001. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
5. ^ "Falode, Okenwa head new NNL, NWFL boards". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
6. ^ "Aisha Falode pushing the boundaries in Nigeria". inside FIFA. 16 July 2023.
7. ^ ""Invitation of players of Nigerian descent to Super Falcons will kill NWFL" FC Robo coach". bestchoicesports.com.ng. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
8. ^ a b "Edo Queens win first ever NWFL title". Punchng.com. 26 May 2024.
9. ^ "NWFL re-brands, unveils new logo in Lagos". Channelstv. 5 March 2020.
10. ^ "Women: Nigeria: Championship". sports123.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
11. ^ "Nigeria - List of Women Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
12. ^ "The forgotten Falcon". supersport.com. Archived from the original on 2022-02-24. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
13. ^ "Technical Report FIFA Women World Cup 1991" (PDF). fifa.com. p. 84\. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 27, 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
14. ^ "No plans to resurrect Ufuoma Babes- Kuejebola". Futaa.com. Archived from the original on 2022-10-21. Retrieved 2017-10-14.
15. ^ a b c "Africa: Ufuoma Babes Face Disbandment". PM News. December 31, 1998. Retrieved 2017-10-14.
16. ^ "Delta are women league champs". SuperSport. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
17. ^ "2009 Nigeria Women League Final". TideOnline.com. Tide News Website. 3 July 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
18. ^ "Football". Archived from the original on 2017-08-15. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
19. ^ "Rivers Angels Eye more Trophy". TideOnline.com. The Tide News Website. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
20. ^ "Women 2010/2011 football league season begins Jan 8". www.dailytrust.com.ng. Archived from the original on 2017-08-15.
21. ^ "Rivers roast Ibom Queens in Cup tie". Super Sport. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
22. ^ "Super Falcon Ohale relishing Swedish move". BBC Sport.
23. ^ "Nigeria: Delta Queens Win 2012 Women's League Super-Six". Archived from the original on 2017-08-15. Retrieved 2017-08-14.
24. ^ "Women's Premier League a reality". supersport.com. Archived from the original on 2022-02-24. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
25. ^ "Rivers, Delta Do Battle For Women League Title In Super 6 Final". 2012.
26. ^ "Nasarawa Amazons are Nigeria Women League Champions | Goal.com". www.goal.com.
27. ^ "Nasarawa Amazons upset Rivers Angels to lift League trophy - The Nation Nigeria". Archived from the original on 2017-08-15.
28. ^ Ahmadu, Samuel (November 27, 2014). "Rivers Angels are Nigeria women league champions". Goal.com. Retrieved 2017-10-14.
29. ^ "Rivers Angels retain Nigeria Women Premier League title". Retrieved 28 March 2016.
30. ^ "Abia hosts 2015 Nigeria Women Premier League Super Six". Retrieved 28 March 2016.
31. ^ "NWFL: Obuah Congratulates Rivers Angels For Emerging As Winners".
32. ^ Tide, The (23 January 2017). "Amazons Promise To Win Domestic Double Next Season".
33. ^ "Bayelsa Queens get N22m from Governor Dickson for NWPL title win". Pulse. 29 January 2019.
34. ^ "How Rivers Angels won the Nigeria Women Premier League title at 2019 NWPL". Pulse.ng. 3 October 2019.
35. ^ "Coronavirus: Nigeria Women League 2019/20 Season Cancelled". July 8, 2020.
36. ^ "From The Nigeria Women Football League To Topscore In Europe: The Story Of Emueje Ogbiagbevha". 3 September 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-10.
37. ^ "Annam Imo named NWPL Player of the Season". Sport Compass. Archived from the original on 2019-02-09. Retrieved 2019-02-08.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* NWFL: Naija Ratels’ Bankole Olowookere bags December ‘Coach of the month award’ via The Informant247 Naija Sport

* v
* t
* e

Nigeria Women Premier League

Current teams|

* Rivers Angels
* Bayelsa Queens
* Nasarawa Amazons
* Delta Queens
* Ibom Angels
* Heartland Queens
* Confluence Queens
* Osun Babes
* Adamawa Queens
* FC Robo
* Pelican Stars
* Sunshine Queens
* Edo Queens

Former teams|

* COD United Amazons F.C.
* Taraba Queens
* Martin White Doves
* Capital City Doves

Top scorers|

* Asisat Oshoala \- six goals (2013)
* Amarachi Orjinma - seventeen goals (2014)
* Rofiat Sule \- eleven goals (2015)
* Rofiat Sule \- nine goals (2016)
* Reuben Charity \- nine goals (2017)
* Anam Imo \- eight goals (2018)

Winners|

* Rivers Angels (2014)
* Rivers Angels (2015)
* Rivers Angels (2016)
* Nasarawa Amazons (2017)
* Bayelsa Queens (2018)

* v
* t
* e

Football in Nigeria

Nigeria Football Federation

Men|

* National team
* Olympic (U-23)
* U-20
* U-17
* Beach soccer

Women|

* National team
* U-20
* U-17

League system|

| Men|

* Premier League
* National League
* Nigeria Nationwide League 1, 2

|

Women|

* Premiership
* Championship
* Nationwide League

Domestic cups|

| Men|

* Federation Cup
* Super Cup
* Super 4

|

Women|

* Women's Federation Cup
* Women's Super Cup

Awards|

* Footballer of the Year
* Top scorers

Lists|

* All-time Table
* Champions
* Men's clubs
* Women's clubs
* International footballers
* Foreign players
* Venues

* Men's clubs
* Women's clubs
* Men's players
* Women's players
* Expatriate players
* Managers
* Referees
* Venues
* Seasons
* Records

* v
* t
* e

Top level women's football leagues of Africa (CAF)

UNAF (North Africa)|

* Algeria
* Egypt
* Libya
* Morocco
* Tunisia

WAFU (West Africa)|

| Zone A|

* Cape Verde
* Gambia
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Liberia
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Senegal
* Sierra Leone

|

Zone B|

* Benin
* Burkina Faso
* Ivory Coast
* Ghana
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Togo

UNIFFAC (Central Africa)|

* Cameroon
* Central African Rep.
* Chad
* Congo
* DR Congo
* Equatorial Guinea
* Gabon
* São Tomé and Príncipe

CECAFA (East Africa)|

* Burundi
* Djibouti
* Eritrea
* Ethiopia
* Kenya
* Rwanda
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Uganda

COSAFA (Southern Africa)|

* Angola
* Botswana
* Comoros
* Eswatini
* Lesotho
* Madagascar
* Malawi
* Mauritius
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Seychelles
* South Africa
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

* v
* t
* e

Top level women's association football leagues around the world

Africa|

| North Africa|

* Algeria
* Egypt
* Libya
* Morocco
* Tunisia

|

West Africa|

| Zone A|

* Cape Verde
* Gambia
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Liberia
* Mali
* Mauritania
* Senegal
* Sierra Leone

|

Zone B|

* Benin
* Burkina Faso
* Côte d'Ivoire
* Ghana
* Niger
* Nigeria
* Togo

Central Africa|

* Cameroon
* Chad
* Congo
* DR Congo
* Equatorial Guinea
* Gabon

East Africa|

* Burundi
* Djibouti
* Ethiopia
* Kenya
* Rwanda
* South Sudan
* Sudan
* Tanzania
* Uganda

Southern Africa|

* Angola
* Botswana
* Comoros
* Eswatini
* Lesotho
* Malawi
* Mozambique
* Namibia
* Seychelles
* South Africa
* Zambia

Asia|

| West Asia|

* Bahrain
* Iraq
* Jordan
* Kuwait
* Lebanon
* Qatar
* Saudi Arabia
* United Arab Emirates

|

Central Asia|

* Iran
* Kyrgyzstan
* Uzbekistan

South Asia|

* Bangladesh
* Bhutan
* India
* Maldives
* Nepal
* Pakistan

East Asia|

* China PR
* Hong Kong
* Japan
* Korea DPR
* Korea Republic
* Mongolia
* Taiwan

Southeast Asia|

* Australia
* Cambodia
* Indonesia
* Malaysia
* Myanmar
* Philippines
* Singapore
* Thailand
* Vietnam

Europe|

* Albania
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* England
* Estonia
* Faroe Islands
* Finland
* France
* Georgia
* Germany
* Gibraltar
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Ireland
* Israel
* Italy
* Kazakhstan
* Kosovo
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Moldova
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* North Macedonia
* Northern Ireland
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* Scotland
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* Wales

North and Central America,
and the Caribbean|

| North America|

* Canada
* Mexico
* United States
* NWSL
* USLS

|

Central America|

* Costa Rica
* El Salvador
* Guatemala
* Nicaragua

Caribbean|

* Puerto Rico

Oceania|

* New Zealand
* Solomon Islands
* Tuvalu

South America|

* Argentina
* Bolivia
* Brazil
* Chile
* Colombia
* Ecuador
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

* Geography of women's association football

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