Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership champions, Bayelsa Queens, are set for a historic opportunity after FIFA confirmed the qualification pathway for the inaugural Women’s Champions Cup, scheduled to hold in 2026.
The groundbreaking competition, approved by the FIFA Council in March 2025, will feature six continental champions competing for what is expected to become the most prestigious club prize in women’s football.
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Already, Arsenal (England), Gotham FC (United States), Auckland United (New Zealand) and Wuhan Jiangda (China) have secured their places after winning their respective continental titles in Europe, North America, Oceania and Asia.
The remaining two slots will go to the champions of the Copa Libertadores Femenina (South America) in October and the CAF Women’s Champions League (Africa) in November.
Bayelsa Queens’ Path to Glory
For Bayelsa Queens, who reclaimed the NWFL Premiership title last season, the task is clear: winning the CAF Women’s Champions League later this year would earn them Africa’s ticket to the world stage.
If successful, the Nigerian champions will enter at Round 2 in December 2025, hosting the winner of the opening knockout tie between Wuhan Jiangda and Auckland United. A win in that fixture would book Bayelsa Queens a semi-final showdown with European giants Arsenal, potentially the most significant match in the club’s history.
The tournament will conclude with a centralised final phase from January 28 to February 1, 2026, featuring the semi-finals, a third-place playoff, and the grand final.
A successful run for Bayelsa Queens would not only cement their status as pioneers on the global stage but also underline the growing power of Nigerian women’s football, following the Super Falcons’ record-extending 10th WAFCON triumph.
FIFA Women’s Champions Cup 2026 Fixtures
Round 1
October 2025 (Date TBD)
Wuhan Jiangda (China) vs Auckland United (New Zealand)
Round 2
December 2025 (Date TBD)
CAF Champions (Africa) vs Winner of Round 1
Final Phase (January 28 – February 1, 2026)
Semi-final 1: Round 2 winner vs Arsenal (Europe)
Semi-final 2: Gotham FC (North America) vs CONMEBOL Champions (South America)
Third-Place Match: Losers of Semi-finals
Final: Winners of Semi-finals
