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2024/25 NWFL Premiership MD7 Preview: Teams Jostle for placement ahead of season break

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1 month ago

9:55 pm

2024/25 NWFL Premiership MD7 Preview: Teams Jostle for placement ahead of season break

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

The 2024/25 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership approaches the business end as the mid-season break follows after matchday seven.

With four teams yet to taste defeat, the stake gets exciting and captivating.

Below is a preview of Matchday Seven ahead of mid-season recess.

Group A

Edo Queens vs Ekiti Queens

Holders, Edo Queens take their unbeaten record to Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, their home ground against Ekiti Queens.

With four wins and two draws, Moses Aduku’s side recovered from consecutive draws to beat Confluence Queens 2-0 last week.

They have won two of their three home games aside from a 1-1 draw with group leaders, Remo Stars Ladies.

Relatively, Ekiti Queens are bad travelers with losses in all three trips this season.

Jacob Vandhi’s side hopes to end their bad away form against a formidable defending champions.

Both sides won their home ties last season with Edo Queens recording a 3-1 win while Ekiti pipped them 1-0 in Ado Ekiti.

Heartland Queens vs Confluence Queens

Two of three winless teams in the league trade tackles at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, with either side eager to get their first breakthrough.

The host had lost four of their six games with two draws both at home.

Confluence Queens, on the other hand, has lost all their six games with the worst record in the league alongside debutant, Benue Queens.

Both side’s form in the league had been a huge surprise, given their qualification for the Super Six Playoffs last season.

This tie might serve as the end of an abysmal start for both side’s campaigns, depending on the result.

Remo Stars vs Nasarawa Amazons

For the first time in top-flight history, Remo Stars Ladies and Nasarawa Amazons trade tackles with Super Six Playoffs qualification at stake for both sides.

Wemimo Mathew’s side has won five of their six league games with the best league record so far this season out of 16 teams.

The form followed an impressive debut season, winning the Ogun State FA Cup back-to-back, getting to the semi-final of the President Federation Cup in 2024 during their debut campaign, and winning the Sheroes Cup ahead of this season.

The Ikenne-based side has won all their three home games with two away wins against Confluence Queens and Dannaz Ladies.

The Solid Babes hope to put their league experience to bear against the Sky Blue Ladies, playing their second season in the top flight.

They have won four of their six games including an away win over Confluence Queens.

Dannaz Ladies vs Abia Angels

Dannaz Ladies host Abia Angels in their consecutive home games after last week’s loss to Remo Stars Ladies in Lagos.

The Cedars have won a game out of their six matches in the league including two draws and three losses.

Their opponents have a better record of three wins, a draw, and two losses.

During Dannaz Ladies’ debut league season, they pipped Abia Angels 1-0 in Lagos last season before a 3-1 loss followed in Abia.

This will be both side’s third meeting in two seasons.

Group B

Rivers Angels vs Adamawa Queens

Another unbeaten side, Rivers Angels, welcomes Adamawa Queens to Port Harcourt.

The Jewels have been unbeaten in six league games and retained the State FA Cup last weekend in an empathic fashion thrashing Sporting Angels 10-0.

They have won four of their six league games with two draws including two wins in Port Harcourt.

Fintiri Queens search for their first point away after losing all three of their travels this season.

Naija Ratels vs Benue Queens

With their first loss for the season last week against Bayelsa Queens in Yenegoa, Naija Ratels welcome debutant, Benue Queens to Abuja.

The One Day At A Time team has drawn four of their six games with a win and a loss.

The Abuja-based side hopes to pick their second win of the campaign, which might be their second at home after retaining the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) FA Cup title last weekend.

It has been an abysmal debut for Benue Queens with six straight losses from their six games.

They search for their first win and point here against the team owned by their former owner before taking over by the Benue State Government.

FC Robo Queens vs Bayelsa Queens

The Lagos Landladies faces the Prosperity Girls which has not tasted defeat in six games this season.

Emmanuel Osahon’s side suffered their second loss, their biggest of the season, with a 4-1 setback against Delta Queens last week.

This was followed by a semi-final loss on penalties to Unifications Ladies in the Lagos State FA Cup.

They aim to return to winning ways from back-to-back losses in all competitions with a home clash against indomitable Bayelsa Queens.

Bayelsa Queens have a similar record of four wins and two draws with joint leaders, Rivers Angels.

Bayelsa Queens have an abysmal head-to-head record against their host, with four losses in their last seven league games.

Delta Queens vs Ibom Angels

Former league winners, Delta Queens bask in the euphoria of a 4-1 win over FC Robo Queens before retaining the Delta State FA Cup over Delta Babes last weekend.

Last week’s victory was Peter Dedevbo’s side’s second win of the campaign after three losses and a draw.

Ibom Angels also secured their second win of the season beating Adamawa Queens 3-1 in Uyo.

The last league meeting between both sides in the 2020/2021 season ended 1-0 in favor of the Pearls at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, the venue of this contest.

All teams will go on mid-season break after matchday seven with the transfer window opened to beef up squads.