COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 2024 ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE NIGERIA WOMEN FOOTBALL LEAGUE (NWFL) HELD ON TUESDAY, 17TH DECEMBER, 2024, AT FABINO HOTEL BY TOPRANK, GARKI, FCT, ABUJA.

The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) rose from its Annual General Assembly held on Tuesday, 17th December, 2024, and resolved as follows:

1. The Congress expressed gratitude to the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the entire board for their outstanding leadership, unwavering support, and enabling environment, which have fostered growth in the NWFL. Appreciation was also extended to the Chairman of Benue State Football Association, Dr. (Barr.) Paul Edeh, for his tremendous support towards hosting the AGM and for his remarkable hospitality.

2. The Assembly approved the minutes of the 2023/2024 AGM and adopted the financial report for the 2023/2024 season, alongside the budget for the 2024/2025 season.

3.  The Congress further endorsed the 2023/2024 Premiership and Championship tables as presented by the NWFL Secretariat.

4. The promotion of Ibom Angels and Honey Badgers to the NWFL Premiership from the Championship was confirmed, while Royal Queens and Sunshine Queens were relegated to the Championship.

5. The Assembly applauded the board’s strategic marketing initiatives and visibility efforts under the Women Football Rising (c) agenda, aimed at ensuring sustainable growth for women’s football in Nigeria.

6. The Congress aligned with the goals of the board to ensure more girls and women are provided with the opportunity to chart a career as professional football players through systematic and sustainable growth of women’s club football in Nigeria.

7. Congress also reviewed several motions aimed at providing opportunities for growth in the 3 Tiers of the NWFL and approved the following changes to the Leagues structure:

{A}. Increase in the number of clubs in the Premiership from 16 clubs to 20 clubs, to commence from the 2025/2026 Season so that arrangements would be put in place to ensure its successful take-off.

{B}. The retention of 20 clubs structure for the Championship;

{C}. The implementation of the hitherto approved States League as the 3rd Tier of the NWFL from the 2024/2025 season

8. It was resolved that modalities for implementing No 7 would be forwarded to Congress members before the commencement of the 2024/2025 season.

9. Congress also aligned with the institution of several Board Committees to assist in implementing the new structure of the Three {3} Tiers of the League as follows: {A}. Marketing and Communication Committee; {B}. Premiership Super 6 Committee; {C}. Championship Committee; {D}. States League Committee

10. It was resolved that the two-group league format (Groups A and B) would be retained for the 2024/2025 NWFL Premiership season, with the draw ceremony conducted through seeding. The groups are as follows:
Group {A}: Edo Queens FC; Abia Angels FC; Ekiti Queens FC; Heartland Queens; Confluence Queens; Remo Stars Ladies; Nasarawa Amazons; Dannaz Ladies FC

Group {B}: Rivers Angels FC; Ibom Angels FC; Adamawa Queens; Naija Ratels FC; Honey Badgers FC; FC Robo Queens; Bayelsa Queens FC; Delta Queens FC

11. The Congress approved Wednesday, 15th January, 2025, as the kick-off date for the 2024/2025 NWFL Premiership season. The opening Star Match between defending champions Edo Queens and Abia Angels will take place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on the same day.

12. The financial report for the 2023/2024 season, as presented by the NWFL external auditor, and the proposed budget for the 2024/2025 season, as presented by the League Board, were adopted, with Congress applauding the Board and commending the Secretariat for the good work in moving from a deficit of N15m+ to a surplus of N3m+ within the year in review.

13. A vote of confidence was unanimously passed on the NWFL Board, led by Nkechi Obi, for its ambitious strides in repositioning the league and ensuring operational stability.

Signed: Communiqué Drafting Committee
1. Robin Apreala (Bayelsa Queens) – Chairman
2. Abdul Sule (Honey Badgers) – Member
3. Humphrey Njoku (Heartland Queens) – Member
4. Oluwatobi Oyekan (Unification FC)– Member
5. Samuel Ahmadu – Secretary