NWFL Premiership

{{short description|Top-level women's soccer league in Nigeria}} {{Use Nigerian English|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox football league |name = NWFL Premiership |logo = NWFL_Premiership_logo.png |pixels = 165 |country = {{flag|Nigeria}} |confed = CAF |founded = 1990 |folded = |divisions = |teams =12 |feeds = |relegation = Nigerian Women Football League Championship |levels =1 |domest_cup = Nigerian Women's Cup <br /> Champions Shield |confed_cup = CAF W-Champions League |champions = Bayelsa Queens (6th title) |season =2024-25 |most successful club = Rivers Angels & Pelican Stars (7 titles) |tv = |website = [http://www.thenwfl.com 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.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.punchng.com/news/onigbinde-optimistic-about-better-womens-league/ | title=Onigbinde optimistic about better Women's league | access-date=6 November 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106164637/http://www.punchng.com/news/onigbinde-optimistic-about-better-womens-league/ | archive-date=6 November 2014 |newspaper=The Punch}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=http://leadership.ng/sports/388956/nigeria-women-football-league-incorporated | title=Nigeria Women Football League Incorporated | access-date=6 November 2014|newspaper=Leadership}}</ref> It is the women's equivalent of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) for male players.<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/sport/185270-nff-wants-dame-jonathan-to-lead-falcons-to-canada |location=Lagos, Nigeria| title=NFF wants Dame Jonathan to lead Falcons to Canada | access-date=6 November 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20141106154733/http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/sport/185270-nff-wants-dame-jonathan-to-lead-falcons-to-canada | archive-date=6 November 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref><ref name="bbcref">{{Cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/1226860.stm |title=Flourishing league kicks off again |date=17 March 2001 |publisher=BBC |access-date=28 October 2014}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/sports/falode-okenwa-head-new-nnl-nwfl-boards/171729.html |title=Falode, Okenwa head new NNL, NWFL boards |newspaper=Daily Trust|access-date=2017-10-05}}</ref>

== History == 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://inside.fifa.com/womens-football/news/aisha-falode-pushing-the-boundaries-in-nigeria|title=Aisha Falode pushing the boundaries in Nigeria|work=inside FIFA|date=16 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bestchoicesports.com.ng/invitation-of-players-of-nigerian-descent-to-super-falcons-will-kill-nwfl-fc-robo-chairman/|title=“Invitation of players of Nigerian descent to Super Falcons will kill NWFL“ FC Robo coach|work=bestchoicesports.com.ng|accessdate=13 June 2024}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Edo">{{Cite news|url=https://punchng.com/edo-queens-win-first-ever-nwfl-title/|title=Edo Queens win first ever NWFL title|date=26 May 2024|newspaper=The Punch}}</ref>

==Renaming== 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''').<ref>{{cite news |title= NWFL re-brands, unveils new logo in Lagos |url=https://www.channelstv.com/2020/03/05/nwfl-re-brands-unveils-new-logo-in-lagos/?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi90_ywuLPqAhWHGBQKHRaoAsMQ9QF6BAgJEAI |work= Channelstv |date= 5 March 2020}}</ref>

150px|thumb|The old NWFL logo

==Format== 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 == The list of champions and runners-ups:<ref>{{cite web|title=Women: Nigeria: Championship|url=http://sports123.com/foo/wngr.html|publisher=sports123.com|access-date=18 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128045341/http://sports123.com/foo/wngr.html|archive-date=28 November 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nigeria - List of Women Champions|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nig-womchamp.html|website=RSSSF|access-date=18 July 2011}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" !Year !Champions !Runners-up |- | 1990 | Jegede Babes | <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://supersport.com/football/nigeria-sports/news/120417/The_forgotten_Falcon|title=The forgotten Falcon|website=supersport.com|access-date=2021-09-14|archive-date=2022-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224105721/https://supersport.com/football/nigeria-sports/news/120417/The_forgotten_Falcon|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- | 1991<ref>{{cite web |title=Technical Report FIFA Women World Cup 1991 |url=https://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/technicaldevp/50/08/19/wwc_91_tr_part2_260.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227003624/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/technicaldevp/50/08/19/wwc%5f91%5ftr%5fpart2%5f260.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 27, 2011 |publisher=fifa.com |access-date=19 April 2020 |page=84}}</ref> | Mande River State (River Mermaids) | |- | 1992 | Ufuoma Babes<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.futaa.com/article/42933/no-plans-to-resurrect-ufuoma-babes-kuejebola |title=No plans to resurrect Ufuoma Babes- Kuejebola |website=Futaa.com |access-date=2017-10-14 |archive-date=2022-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021122009/https://futaa.com/article/42933/no-plans-to-resurrect-ufuoma-babes-kuejebola |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |- | 1993 | Ufuoma Babes<ref name="pmnews">{{Cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/199812310087.html |title=Africa: Ufuoma Babes Face Disbandment |date=December 31, 1998 |website=PM News |access-date=2017-10-14}}</ref> | |- | 1994 | Rivers Angels SC<ref name="bbcref" /> | Jegede Babes |- | 1995 | Ufuoma Babes<ref name="pmnews" /> | Pelican Stars FC |- | 1996 | Ufuoma Babes<ref name="pmnews" /> | |- | 1997 | Pelican Stars FC<ref name="bbcref" /> | |- | 1998 | Pelican Stars FC<ref name="bbcref" /> | |- | 1999 | Pelican Stars FC<ref name="bbcref" /> | FCT Queens |- | 2000 | Pelican Stars FC<ref name="bbcref" /> | 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<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.supersport.com/football/nigeria/news/110925/Delta_are_women_league_champs |title=Delta are women league champs |website=SuperSport |access-date=2017-08-14}}</ref> | Bayelsa Queens |- | 2009 | Delta Queens FC<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.thetidenewsonline.com/2009/07/03/rivers-angels-miss-league-title-winners-receive-n200000/ |location=Port Harcourt, Nigeria| title=2009 Nigeria Women League Final | date=3 July 2009 | access-date=14 October 2014|newspaper=The Tide}}</ref> | Rivers Angels |- | 2010 | Rivers Angels/Pelican Stars<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://old.nationaldailyng.com/sport/football?start=235 |location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=Football |access-date=2017-08-14 |archive-date=2017-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815061603/http://old.nationaldailyng.com/sport/football?start=235 |url-status=dead |newspaper=National Daily}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.thetidenewsonline.com/2010/10/13/rivers-angels-eye-super-league-trophy/ |location=Port Harcourt, Nigeria| title=Rivers Angels Eye more Trophy | date=13 October 2010 | access-date=14 October 2014|newspaper=The Tide}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/sunday/index.php/component/content/article/19-sport/fever-pitch/2531-women-20102011-football-league-season-begins-jan-8 |title=Women 2010/2011 football league season begins Jan 8 |newspaper=Daily Trust|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815023923/https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/sunday/index.php/component/content/article/19-sport/fever-pitch/2531-women-20102011-football-league-season-begins-jan-8 |archive-date=2017-08-15}} </ref>{{efn|group=upper-alpha|There was no Super tournament this season but Pelican Stars topped group A, while Rivers Angels topped group B in the regular season}} | |- | 2011 | Delta Queens FC<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.supersport.com/football/nigeria/news/121130/Rivers_roast_Ibom_Queens_in_Cup_tie |title=Rivers roast Ibom Queens in Cup tie |website=Super Sport |access-date=2017-08-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39652463|title = Super Falcon Ohale relishing Swedish move|work = BBC Sport}}</ref> | River Angels SC |- | 2012 | Delta Queens FC<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.ghanamma.com/2012/11/28/nigeria-delta-queens-win-2012-womens-league-super-six/ |title=Nigeria: Delta Queens Win 2012 Women's League Super-Six |access-date=2017-08-14 |archive-date=2017-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815025725/https://news.ghanamma.com/2012/11/28/nigeria-delta-queens-win-2012-womens-league-super-six/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://supersport.com/football/nigeria/news/131231/Womens_Premier_League_a_reality|title=Women's Premier League a reality|website=supersport.com|access-date=2021-09-14|archive-date=2022-02-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224105718/https://supersport.com/football/nigeria/news/131231/Womens_Premier_League_a_reality|url-status=dead}}</ref> | River Angels SC<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=8376 |title=Rivers, Delta Do Battle For Women League Title In Super 6 Final |date=2012}}</ref> |- | 2013 | Nasarawa Amazons<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4093/nigeria/2014/02/08/4601741/nasarawa-amazons-are-nigeria-women-league-champions|title=Nasarawa Amazons are Nigeria Women League Champions | Goal.com|website=www.goal.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| url = http://thenationonlineng.net/nasarawa-amazons-upset-rivers-angels-to-lift-league-trophy/|location=Lagos, Nigeria| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170815064057/http://thenationonlineng.net/nasarawa-amazons-upset-rivers-angels-to-lift-league-trophy/| archive-date = 2017-08-15| title = Nasarawa Amazons upset Rivers Angels to lift League trophy - The Nation Nigeria|newspaper=The Nation}}</ref> | Rivers Angels |- | 2014 | Rivers Angels<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4111/npfl/2014/11/27/6551141/rivers-angels-are-nigeria-women-league-champions |title=Rivers Angels are Nigeria women league champions |last=Ahmadu |first=Samuel |date=November 27, 2014 |website=Goal.com |access-date=2017-10-14}}</ref> | Pelican Stars FC |- | 2015 | Rivers Angels<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/12072/nigeria-women/2015/11/06/17023072/rivers-angels-retain-nigeria-women-premier-league-title | title=Rivers Angels retain Nigeria Women Premier League title | access-date=28 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/abia-hosts-2015-nigeria-women-153957271.html | title=Abia hosts 2015 Nigeria Women Premier League Super Six | access-date=28 March 2016}}</ref> | Bayelsa Queens |- | 2016 | Rivers Angels<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.channelstv.com/2017/01/23/nwfl-obuah-congratulates-rivers-angels-for-emerging-as-winners/|title=NWFL: Obuah Congratulates Rivers Angels For Emerging As Winners}}</ref> | Nasarawa Amazons<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thetidenewsonline.com/2017/01/23/amazons-promise-to-win-domestic-double-next-season/|location=Port Harcourt, Nigeria|title=Amazons Promise To Win Domestic Double Next Season|first=The|last=Tide|date=23 January 2017 |newspaper=The Tide}}</ref> |- | 2017 | Nasarawa Amazons | Delta Queens |- | 2018 | Bayelsa Queens<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.pulse.ng/sports/football/bayelsa-queens-get-n22m-from-governor-dickson-for-nwpl-title-win/qnr8657 |title=Bayelsa Queens get N22m from Governor Dickson for NWPL title win |newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|date=29 January 2019 }}</ref> | Nasarawa Amazons |- | 2019 | Rivers Angels<ref name="Rivers Angels">{{Cite news |title= How Rivers Angels won the Nigeria Women Premier League title at 2019 NWPL |url=https://www.pulse.ng/sports/football/how-rivers-angels-won-the-nigerian-womens-league-title-at-2019-nwpl-super-4/2j47mfv |date= 3 October 2019|newspaper=Pulse Nigeria}}</ref> | Confluence Queens |- | 2020 |align=center colspan=2|Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/sports/football/401876-coronavirus-nigeria-women-league-2019-20-season-cancelled.html|title=Coronavirus: Nigeria Women League 2019/20 Season Cancelled|date=July 8, 2020|newspaper=Premium Times}}</ref> |- |2020–21 |Rivers Angels |Delta Queens |- |2021–22 |Bayelsa Queens |Nasarawa Amazons |- |2022–23 |Delta Queens |Bayelsa Queens |- |2023–24 |Edo Queens<ref name="Edo"/> |Rivers Angels |- |2024–25 |Bayelsa Queens |Nasarawa Amazons |}

== Most successful clubs == {| class="wikitable" ! Club !! Champions !! Runners-up !! Winning seasons !! Runners-up seasons |- |Pelican Stars FC (Calabar) |{{center|8}} |{{center|3}} | 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2010{{efn|Shared title |name="shared"}} | 1995, 2004, 2014 |- |Rivers Angels SC (Port Harcourt) |{{center|7}} |{{center|5}} | 1994, 2010,{{efn|name="shared"}} 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020–21 | 2009,2011, 2012,2013, 2023–24 |- |Bayelsa Queens (Yenagoa) |{{center|6}} |{{center|4}} | 2004, 2006, 2007, 2018, 2021–22, 2024–25 | 2005, 2008, 2015, 2022–23 |- |Delta Queens FC (Asaba) |{{center|6}} |{{center|2}} | 2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2022–23 | 2017, 2020–21 |- |Ufuoma Babes (Warri) |{{center|4}} |{{center|–}} | 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996 | {{center|–}} |- |Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa) |{{center|2}} |{{center|6}} | 2013, 2017 | 2006, 2007, 2016, 2018, 2021–22, 2024–25 |- |Jegede Babes (Lagos) |{{center|1}} |{{center|1}} | 1990 | 1995 |- |Mande River State (Port Harcourt) |{{center|1}} |{{center|–}} | 1991 |{{center|–}} |- |Edo Queens (Benin City) |{{center|1}} |{{center|–}} | 2023–24 |{{center|–}} |}

== Individual honours == === Top scorers === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !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 |- |rowspan=2|2017 |Reuben Charity |Ibom Angels |rowspan=2|8 |- |Rasheedat Ajibade |FC Robo |- |2018 |Anam Imo |Nasarawa Amazons |8 |- |2019 |Anjor Mary |Bayelsa Queens |6 |- |2020–21 |Gift Monday |FC Robo |10{{efn|Regular season only}} |- |2021–22 |Gift Monday |Bayelsa Queens |10{{efn|Regular season only}} |- |2022–23 |Mercy Omokwu |Delta Queens |9 |- |2023–24 |Folashade Ijamilusi |Robo Queens |8 |- |2024–25 |Bolaji Olamide |Remo Stars Ladies |15 |} {{notelist}}

=== Player of the Season === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !Year !Player !Team |- |2015 |Emueje Ogbiagbevha (super 6 only) |Nasarawa Amazons<ref>{{Cite web |title=From The Nigeria Women Football League To Topscore In Europe: The Story Of Emueje Ogbiagbevha |date=3 September 2020 |url=https://www.sports247.ng/from-the-nigeria-women-football-league-to-topscore-in-europe-the-story-of-emueje-ogbiagbevha/ |access-date=2020-09-10}}</ref> |- |2016 |Rofiat Sule |Bayelsa Queens |- |2017 |Rasheedat Ajibade |FC Robo |- |2018 |Anam Imo<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sportscompass.com.ng/2019/01/29/annam-imo-named-nwpl-player-of-the-season/ |title=Annam Imo named NWPL Player of the Season |website=Sport Compass |access-date=2019-02-08 |archive-date=2019-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124458/http://sportscompass.com.ng/2019/01/29/annam-imo-named-nwpl-player-of-the-season/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> |Nasarawa Amazons |- |}

==Notes== {{notelist-ua}}

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links ==  * {{Official website|https://thenwfl.com}} * [https://theinformant247.com/nwfl-naija-ratels-bankole-olowookere-bags-december-coach-of-the-month-award/ NWFL: Naija Ratels’ Bankole Olowookere bags December ‘Coach of the month award’] via [https://theinformant247.com/category/sport/ The Informant247 Naija Sport]

{{Nigeria Women Premier League}} {{Football in Nigeria}} {{CAF women's leagues}} {{Top level women's association football leagues around the world}}

Category:Nigeria Women Premier League Category:Women's association football leagues in Nigeria Nigeria Category:Sports leagues established in 1990 Category:1990 establishments in Nigeria Category:NWFL Premiership