The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) has unveiled the draw, competition format and match schedule for the 2026 NWFL Nationwide Competition, with 12 clubs set to battle for two promotion places to the 2027 NWFL Championship.
The tournament, which will take place in Aba, Abia State, from August 15 to 23, represents the final stage of Nigeria’s third-tier women’s league and offers ambitious grassroots clubs a pathway into the country’s second division.
Four groups, one promotion dream
The 12 qualified clubs have been divided into four groups of three teams, with only the strongest sides progressing to the knockout rounds.
Group A
- Kwara United Queens (Kwara)
- Solo Wonders Babes (Akwa Ibom)
- Spunky Blazers FA (Edo)
Group B
- C2E Sports Academy (Abia)
- Bayelsa Princesses (Bayelsa)
- Lakeside Queens (Ogun)
Group C
- Onimarg (Ondo)
- Ubakala Babes (Abia)
- NAF Queens (FCT)
Group D
- Plateau United Queens (Plateau)
- Obosa Football Academy (Lagos)
- Osklean (Rivers)
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Host state Abia will have two representatives C2E Sports Academy and Ubakala Babes as they look to make home advantage count.
How promotion will be decided
The competition will begin with a round-robin group stage, where each club will play the other two teams in its group.
The four group winners will advance to the semi-finals.
Unlike many tournaments, the semi-finals carry enormous significance, as both winners will automatically secure promotion to the 2027 NWFL Championship.
The victorious semi-finalists will then meet in the final to determine the 2026 NWFL Nationwide champions.
Tournament schedule
The tournament will follow a nine-day programme.
- Saturday, August 15: Arrival of teams and pre-match meeting
- Sunday, August 16: Group stage – Matchday One
- Monday, August 17: Rest day
- Tuesday, August 18: Group stage – Matchday Two
- Wednesday, August 19: Group stage – Matchday Three
- Thursday, August 20: Rest day
- Friday, August 21: Semi-finals
- Saturday, August 22: Rest day
- Sunday, August 23: Final
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Groups to watch
Group B could prove one of the most intriguing, with hosts C2E Sports Academy hoping home support can inspire them against experienced opponents Bayelsa Princesses and Lakeside Queens.
Group C also promises an exciting contest as Abia’s Ubakala Babes face Onimarg and NAF Queens in a three-way battle for a place in the last four.
Meanwhile, Group D features clubs from three different footballing regions including Plateau, Lagos and Rivers setting up an unpredictable race for the knockout stage.
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Beyond promotion, the NWFL Nationwide has become one of the league’s most important talent-development platforms, giving emerging clubs and players the opportunity to compete on a national stage.
