ABA, ABIA STATE — The path to glory in Nigerian women’s grassroots football is officially set. The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) has announced that the commercial hub of Aba will play host to the 2026 NWFL Nationwide Competition, scheduled to run from August 15 to 23, 2026 .
According to a statement released on Friday by NWFL Media Director Samuel Ahmadu, 12 ambitious clubs from across the federation will converge on Abia State to fight for two highly coveted promotion tickets to the 2027 NWFL Championship.
Serving as the vital third tier of Nigeria’s women’s football hierarchy, NWFL Nationwide offers a direct route for grassroots talent to shine on a national platform. The format will see the 12 teams divided into four groups of three. The two teams that successfully navigate the group stages and emerge victorious in the high-stakes semi-finals will earn automatic promotion to the second tier.
NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi , highlighted the tournament’s immense significance in discovering and nurturing the next generation of football superstars.
“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 stated. “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 also extended her profound gratitude to the Abia State Government and the Local Organising Committee for their pivotal support. She urged all participating clubs to adhere to competition regulations and uphold strict professionalism throughout the nine-day football fiesta.
Official Group Pairings :
The 12 qualified clubs have been drawn into the following four groups:
| 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 :
The competition will follow a rigorous nine-day timeline, testing the endurance and tactical depth of the participating squads:
- Saturday, August 15 : Arrival of teams and Mandatory Pre-Match Meeting (6:00 p.m.)
- Sunday, August 16 : Matchday One (Group Stage)
- Monday, August 17 : Rest Day
- Tuesday, August 18 : Matchday Two (Group Stage)
- Wednesday, August 19 : Matchday Three (Group Stage)
- Thursday, August 20 :Rest Day
- Friday, August 21 :Semi-finals (Promotion Deciders)
- Saturday, August 22 : Rest Day
- Sunday, August 23: Championship Final and Trophy Presentation
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