Rangers International will compete in the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) Premiership in the 2026/27 season after acquiring the league slot of Dannaz Ladies of Lagos.
Rangers Corporation General Manager, Barrister Amobi Ezeaku, confirmed the development during a press briefing at the club’s headquarters in Enugu on Wednesday, a day after Rangers announced their plans to enter Nigeria’s top division of women’s football.
Ezeaku disclosed that discussions over the acquisition of Dannaz Ladies’ slot are already about 80 percent complete, paving the way for Rangers to establish a women’s team in the NWFL Premiership.
The club will also soon commence open screening for players interested in making the squad ahead of the new season.
Coach Favour Anieke, who previously guided the Rangers women’s side during the championship campaign, will remain in charge of the team despite being unable to secure promotion on the pitch.
Ezeaku said the women’s team would receive the same level of attention, support and recognition as the Rangers men’s side, with the club aiming to build a strong and competitive team rather than simply fulfil its participation requirements.
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The club is also considering where the women will play their home matches. Ezeaku identified Awka City Stadium in Awka, Anambra State, as one option, although he said Rangers would prefer the women’s team to use the same venues as the men whenever possible.
Longer term, Rangers plan to fully integrate the women’s team into the club’s structure following the renovation of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, popularly known as the Cathedral.
The decision marks a significant expansion of Rangers International’s football structure, bringing the historic Enugu club into Nigeria’s top tier of women’s football.
Rangers’ entry into the NWFL Premiership will also give the club a new pathway to pursue ambitions beyond domestic competition, with Ezeaku outlining the intention to develop a competitive women’s side capable of eventually representing Rangers in continental football.
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In the meantime, the focus is to complete the Dannaz Ladies deal, conducting the player screening and preparing the team for its first season in the NWFL Premiership.
The move means Rangers will enter the 2026/27 campaign with both their men’s and women’s teams operating at the highest level of their respective domestic competitions.
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