2026 NWFL Nationwide: Aba To Host 12-Club Tournament

The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) has announced that Aba, Abia State, will host the 2026 NWFL Nationwide Competition from August 15 to 23, 2026, with 12 clubs vying for promotion to the NWFL Championship.

The tournament, which serves as the third tier of Nigeria’s women’s football league system, will see the two finalists secure automatic promotion to the 2027 NWFL Championship, according to a statement issued Friday by NWFL Media Director Samuel Ahmadu.

Group Draws

The 12 qualified teams have been drawn into four groups of three:

Group A: Kwara United Queens FC (Kwara), Solo Wonders Babes FC (Akwa Ibom), Spunky Blazers FA (Edo)

Group B: C2E Sports Academy (Abia – hosts), Bayelsa Princesses FC (Bayelsa), Lakeside Queens FC (Ogun)

Group C: Onimarg FC (Ondo), Ubakala Babes FC (Abia), NAF Queens FC (FCT, Abuja)

Group D: Plateau United Queens FC (Plateau), Obosa Football Academy (Lagos), Osklean FC (Rivers)

Tournament Schedule

• August 15: Team arrivals and pre-match meeting (6:00 p.m.)
• August 16: Matchday One (Group Stage)
• August 17: Rest Day
• August 18: Matchday Two (Group Stage)
• August 19: Matchday Three (Group Stage)
• August 20: Rest Day
• August 21: Semi-finals
• August 22: Rest Day
• August 23: Final

NWFL Chief Operating Officer Modupe Shabi described the Nationwide competition as a vital development platform for discovering and nurturing grassroots talent.

“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.

“We are delighted to welcome the participating teams to Aba and expect a tournament that reflects the values of excellence, discipline and fair play.”

Shabi expressed appreciation to the Abia State Government, the Local Organising Committee and other stakeholders for their support, while urging participating clubs to uphold the highest standards of professionalism throughout the tournament.