NWFL Congress approves Premiership expansion to 20 teams from 2025

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership is set to witness an expansion marking a new phase for the league.

Currently with 16 teams, the women’s football top-flight league in Nigeria is expected to expand to 20 teams.

The Congress of the league reviewed several motions aimed at providing opportunities for growth in the 3 Tiers of the NWFL during the league Annual General Assembly (AGA) in Abuja on Tuesday.

Approval was given to the following changes to the Leagues structure:

Increase in the number of clubs in the Premiership from 16 clubs to 20 clubs, to commence from the 2025/2026 Season so that arrangements would be put in place to ensure its successful take-off.

In the NWFL Championship, the second tier league, the retention of 20 clubs structure was adopted.

The was also approval for the implementation of the hitherto approved States League as the third Tier of the NWFL from the 2024/2025 season

It was resolved during the AGA that modalities for implementing the State League would be forwarded to Congress members before the commencement of the 2024/2025 season.

The women’s top-flight league has witnessed structural adjustment in recent seasons.

From 16 teams, 14 teams participated during the 2020/2021 season after Adamawa Queens and Heartland Queens could not meet league licensing requirements.

The 14-team format continued for two more seasons (2021/2022 and 2022/2023) before expansion to 16 teams for the 2023/2024 season.