NWFL Sanctions Ibom Angels Over Crowd Violence in Uyo

The Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) has imposed sanctions on Ibom Angels FC following crowd disturbances and the assault on Bayelsa Queens players and officials during their Premiership fixture in Uyo on Wednesday.

The disciplinary measures, announced on Thursday, January 8, 2026, followed a review of match officials’ reports and video evidence from the NWFL Premiership encounter played on January 7, 2026, at the Uyo Township Stadium, Akwa Ibom State.

According to the league, supporters of Ibom Angels encroached onto the field of play and attacked players and officials of Bayelsa Queens, actions described as serious violations of NWFL regulations and the principles of fair play.

As a result, the NWFL fined Ibom Angels a total of ₦2.5 million for multiple breaches of its rules. The sanctions include a ₦1.5 million fine for contravening Article 26.1, which covers assault, intimidation and offensive conduct, and an additional ₦1 million fine for bringing the game into disrepute and failing to provide adequate security.

In addition to the financial penalties, Ibom Angels have been ordered to play their next three home matches behind closed doors, in line with Article 16.4 of the NWFL regulations.

Reacting to the decision, NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi, said the sanctions were necessary to safeguard the integrity of the league and ensure the safety of all participants.

“The safety of players, officials and match personnel is non-negotiable,” Shabi said.

“What occurred in Uyo represents a serious breach of our regulations and the values of the NWFL. We will take stiffer actions against any club whose supporters engage in violence or conduct capable of bringing the league into disrepute.”

The fixtures affected by the closed-door ruling are Ibom Angels’ home matches against Ekiti Queens, Edo Queens and Naija Ratels, scheduled for January and February.

The NWFL also warned that any failure to comply with the sanctions, or a repeat of such incidents, could result in more severe penalties, including extended venue bans or further disciplinary action.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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