Rangers Women booked their place in the 2026 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Championship promotion playoffs after a hard earned 1-0 victory over Fortress Ladies secured top spot in Group C on Tuesday at the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar.
Having climbed to the summit after beating Wazbak International Sports Academy on Matchday Two, Rangers entered their final group game knowing that at least a draw could keep their qualification hopes alive. Yet they also understood that anything less than victory could leave the door open if results elsewhere turned against them.
With only the four group winners progressing to the promotion playoffs, Rangers approached the decisive encounter with purpose rather than caution, determined to leave nothing to chance.
Rangers Women defeated Fortress Ladies 1-0 to finish unbeaten atop Group C, qualify for the 2026 NWFL Championship promotion playoffs. Photocredit: Rangers Media.
Fortress Ladies, needing all three points to avoid elimination and keep their own qualification hopes alive, made the brighter start.
The bottom placed side carried the greater attacking threat during the opening exchanges and almost found the breakthrough in the 36th minute when a dangerous free kick was expertly delivered into the box, only for the Rangers goalkeeper to produce an excellent save.
While Fortress searched desperately for the opener, Rangers gradually settled into the contest, created promising counter attacking opportunities in the 28th and 42nd minutes but lacked the clinical finishing required to convert either chance as both teams headed into the interval locked at 0-0.
READMORE: CAS dismisses viral AFCON final verdict claims, says Senegal-Morocco case still ongoing
The tension only increased after the restart with simultaneous updates filtering through from the other Group C fixture between Wazbak International Sports Academy and Unification FC, Rangers knew there could be no room for complacency despite their favourable position.
Rangers responded by matching Fortress’s intensity in a fiercely contested second half, with both teams battling for control.
The breakthrough eventually arrived 12 minutes from time. Chisom Chukwuemeka kept her composure inside the area in the 78th minute to fire Rangers into a priceless 1-0 lead, sparking celebrations among the Enugu contingent and putting one foot firmly in the promotion playoffs.
Rangers managed the closing stages with discipline and composure, shutting out Fortress Ladies to secure a second consecutive victory and complete an unbeaten group campaign.
Elsewhere, Unification FC produced the shock result of the group by thrashing Wazbak International Sports Academy 5-1.
READMORE: Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan secures spot in Diamond League Final in Brussels
Esther Stephen opened the scoring from a direct free kick before Ruth Joseph struck twice inside the opening 25 minutes. Esther Christian added a fourth a minute later, while Shukurat Tirimisiyu made it 5-0 in first half stoppage time. Nofisat Ogundele grabbed a late consolation for Wazbak in the 72nd minute.
Despite Unification’s emphatic victory, Rangers’ win ensured they remained in control of their own destiny.
Rangers finished top of Group C with seven points from three matches after recording two wins and one draw without suffering defeat. Unification ended second on five points, Wazbak finished third with three points, while Fortress Ladies closed the campaign bottom with one point.
Final Group C standings
| Position | Team | P | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rangers Women | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| 2 | Unification FC | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 | Wazbak International Sports Academy | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | Fortress Ladies | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Rangers’ reward is a place in the NWFL Championship promotion playoffs, where the four group winners will battle for promotion to the NWFL Premiership.
The dream debut campaign continues for Rangers after entering the Championship as newcomers, they navigated a fiercely competitive Group C unbeaten and now stand just one step away from earning promotion to a historic Nigeria’s top flight.
