Calabar Gears Up! City Named Host for NWFL Championship, Teams Eye Promotion
Calabar, Cross River State, is set to host the 2026 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Championship from July 9-16. Sixteen teams will compete for two promotion spots to the NWFL Premiership, while three lowest-ranked teams face relegation. The championship will feature a detailed schedule of group matches and decisive play-offs.
The 2026 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Championship is set to be hosted in Calabar, Cross River State, from Thursday, July 9, to Thursday, July 16, 2026. This significant tournament serves as the promotion playoff for Nationwide division sides, offering them a pathway to achieve elite status in the top-flight NWFL Premiership.
Samuel Ahmadu, the league's spokesperson, officially confirmed Calabar as the venue on Thursday, noting that the city successfully hosted the tournament two years prior, in 2024. The week-long championship will feature 16 teams fiercely competing for two coveted promotion spots to the NWFL Premiership. Conversely, the three lowest-ranked teams at the conclusion of the competition will face relegation to the NWFL Nationwide division.
Ms. Modupe Shabi, the NWFL Chief Operating Officer, provided further details regarding the tournament's arrangements. Teams are expected to arrive in Calabar on Thursday, July 9, ahead of the commencement of activities. A crucial step will be the official draw, scheduled for June 29, which will divide the 16 participating teams into four groups.
The competitive schedule released by the league outlines a comprehensive plan. A pre-match meeting will be held on Friday, July 10, before Matchday One officially kicks off on Saturday, July 11, with eight matches slated to be played across two venues. Following a rest day on July 12, Matchday Two will proceed on Monday, July 13, and the final round of group matches is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14. After another designated rest day on July 15, the decisive Matchday Four play-off fixtures will be played on July 16, which will ultimately determine the teams that successfully secure their promotion to the NWFL Premiership.