The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) has officially confirmed that the 2026 NWFL Nationwide Championship will take place in Aba, Abia State, from August 15 to 23, 2026, with 12 ambitious clubs from across the country set to compete for promotion to the 2027 NWFL Championship.
Sports247 reports that according to a statement issued by NWFL Media Director Samuel Ahmadu, the NWFL Nationwide—the third tier of Nigeria’s women’s football league structure—will serve as a pathway for emerging clubs, with the two finalists earning automatic promotion to the second-tier NWFL Championship.
The participating teams have been drawn into four groups of three. Group A features Kwara United Queens FC, Solo Wonders Babes FC and Spunky Blazers FA. Hosts C2E Sports Academy headline Group B alongside Bayelsa Princesses FC and Ogun State representatives Lakeside Queens FC.
Group C consists of Onimarg FC, Ubakala Babes FC and NAF Queens FC, while Group D will see Plateau United Queens FC battle Obosa Football Academy and Osklean FC for places in the knockout stage.
The nine-day tournament will begin on Saturday, August 15, with the arrival of teams and a mandatory pre-match meeting.
Competitive action kicks off on Sunday, August 16, followed by Matchday Two on Tuesday, August 18, and the final group-stage fixtures on Wednesday, August 19.
The semi-finals are scheduled for Friday, August 21, with the winners automatically securing promotion before contesting the championship final on Sunday, August 23.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi, described the competition as a vital platform for the growth of women’s football in Nigeria.
“The NWFL Nationwide is an important component of our league structure because it provides ambitious grassroots clubs with a clear pathway to higher levels of competition,” Shabi said.
She expressed confidence that Aba would provide an excellent atmosphere for the championship and urged all participating clubs to uphold the values of professionalism, discipline and fair play throughout the competition.
Shabi also commended the Abia State Government, the Local Organising Committee and other stakeholders for their support in hosting the tournament, noting that the championship remains central to the NWFL’s commitment to discovering new talents and expanding opportunities for women’s football across the country.
With promotion to the 2027 NWFL Championship at stake, the competition promises intense action as clubs from across Nigeria battle for a place among the nation’s elite women’s teams.
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