NWFL will rebrand women’s league, attract more sponsors, says Obi

•Season begins November 15
Chairperson of Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL), Nkechi Obi, has said that the body is putting up a structure that would attract more private sector investment to the female football competition, which kicks off on November 15.

Speaking at the board’s 2023 yearly General Assembly in Lagos at the weekend, Obi said the women’s league must be made financially attractive to lure more girls into the game. She said that the NWFL has adopted a structure that would ensure every fund that comes into the game is properly utilised to grow the game.

She said: “The board of the Nigeria Women’s League has been saddled with the responsibility of driving the growth of professional women’s football in Nigeria.

Building on the success that has been achieved in the past and also positioning the league to leverage the global rise in women’s football and women’s sports across the World is our goal.

“The task of delivering monumental growth of the league by the new board requires strategic thinking to ensure the full commercialisation of the league.”

The development of frameworks to increase the number of girls playing football and clear guaranteed pathway for young talented girls to become professional football players are also the board’s target.

“We unveiled the women’s rising platform to assist in drawing well-meaning Nigerians and organisations to join in promoting the NWFL.”

In a communique released after the yearly general meeting, the board approved the expansion of the NWFL Premier League to 16 teams from 14, and Championship to 20 from 12. It also approved the restructuring of the 10-team Nationwide League to the States League.

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.

While approving November 15, 2023 as the kick-off date for the 2023/2024 NWFL Premiership, the body adopted a two-group league format of A and B for the season.

In Group A are Naija Ratels, Nasarawa Amazons, Confluence Queens, Abia Angels, Heartland Queens, Dannaz Ladies, Royal Queens and Adamawa Queens, while in Group B are Lakeside Queens, Rivers Angels, Delta Queens, Sunshine Queens, Robo Queens, Edo Queens, Ekiti Queens and Bayelsa Queens.

The meeting designated the clash between Ekiti Queens and Delta Queens as the star match of the opening day of the NWFL Premier League season. The match is scheduled for the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium on November 15, 2023.