Our Reporter October 6, 2023
By Taofeek Babalola
The board of Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) has announced Wednesday 15th November, 2023 as the kick-off date for the 2023/2024 NWFL Premiership.
This was contained in the Communique issued at the end of the 2023 NWFL Annual General Assembly (AGA) held at the BON Hotel, Ikeja Residence, 51 Sobo Arobiodu Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos yesterday.
The AGA approved the expansion of the NWFL Premiership to 16 from 14, and Championship to 20 from 12 and the restructuring of the 10-team Nationwide League to the States League.
Also, the Congress confirmed the promotion of Dannaz Ladies, Sunshine Queens, Lakeside Queens and Ekiti Queens to the NWFL Premiership from the Championship and the relegation of two clubs – Ibom Angels and Osun Babes – to the NWFL Championship.
Similarly, the NWFL AGA adopted a League format of 2 groups of A and B for the 2023/2024 NWFL Premiership season. Following the draw ceremony, the two groups are as follow:
Group A will have Nasarawa Amazons, Heartland Queens, Confluence Queens, Adamawa Queens, Dannaz Ladies, Naija Ratels, Royal Queen and Abia Angels.
The Group B will include Remo Stars, Rivers Angels, Sunshine Queens, Robo Queens, Edo Queens, Bayelsa Queens, Ekiti Queens and Delta Queens.
Speaking at the AGA, the chairman of the NWFL board Ms Nkechi Obi said the new board topmost priority is driving the growth of professional Women’s football in Nigeria, positioning the league to leverage the global rise in women’s football and women’s sports across the world.
Obi added that the focus of the board is on expanding the women’s football ecosystem, a holistic approach that encompasses state football associations, clubs, players, ex-players, NWFL ambassadors, coaches, fans, agents, corporate Nigeria, commercial partners, policymakers, and more.
Also at this year’s AGA which revolved around the theme “Women’s Football Rising© Platform.”, NWFL launched exciting initiatives including the He4She© Campaign, Sisterhood© Campaign, and Football and The Girl Child© Initiative.
Speaking at the AGA, Obi said: “The task of delivering monumental growth of the leagues by the new Board requires strategic thinking to ensure the full commercialization of the league, the development of frameworks to increase the number of girls playing football and a clear, guaranteed pathway for young girls to become professional football players.
“We will grow the level of female participation in football and improve on the quality and capacity of personnel around the league including players, coaches, officials and administration. We will institute governance frameworks as the foundation for development and sustainability. We will harness revenue opportunities at the league level and provide guidance to clubs to help them harness their commercial value, and all these will be achieved.”
On the launch of new initiatives for the NWFL, she added that: “Our Women’s Football Rising© Platform and its initiatives will be delivered in accordance with global best practices and strategies that can deliver the desired results. We have adopted FIFA’s 5 Pillars for Women’s Football Development and domesticated it into our 5-ponged Execution Strategy for women’s football that will see us develop and grow the game, showcase the NWFL, communicate and commercialize the league, govern and lead with professionalism, and educate and empower women through football.”
