Edo Queens have won the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) title for the first time.
News About Nigeria reports that the Benin-based team secured a 1-1 draw against Bayelsa Queens in their final match of the NWFL Super Six playoff, accumulating 10 points from five matches.
Edo Queens dominated the tournament, winning four games and losing one.
Their victory was sealed when the Rivers Angels failed to defeat the Heartland Queens, resulting in a 1-1 draw. This outcome ensured Edo Queens’ maiden title at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Bayelsa State.
The thrilling match saw Edo Queens take the lead in the 29th minute through Emem Essien’s impressive strike. However, Bayelsa Queens equalised just four minutes into the second half, courtesy of Zainab Olopade’s goal.
With this triumph, the Edo Queens will represent Nigeria in the upcoming CAF Women’s Champions League.
The NWFL season, which commenced on November 14, 2023, featured the return of Super Falcons legend Onome Ebi to the league, who joined the Naija Ratels briefly.
Last year, Delta Queens clinched their fifth title by defeating former champion Bayelsa Queens 2-1.
In a recent interview, former Super Falcons star Stella Mbachu, however, expressed concern over the lack of corporate sponsorship for the NWFL.
Mbachu, now a coach with Heartland Queens, highlighted the absence of new discoveries in Nigerian women’s football, attributing it to the lack of motivation from the corporate sector. She praised the organisers of the NWFL Super-6 for delivering a high-quality competition but said there is a need for sponsorship to drive the growth of women’s football in Nigeria.
The NWFL Premiership is the apex league for women’s association football in Nigeria, equivalent to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) for male players.
