The battle for promotion to the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership moves into its decisive phase today, with four clubs vying for two places in the 2026 NWFL Championship Super Playoffs.
Following three rounds of group action, DreamStar Ladies, Pelican Stars, Rangers Women and Imo Strikers Queens topped their respective groups to keep their upward momentum alive.
Meanwhile, at the foot of the standings, First Mahi Babes, Gallant Queens, Fortress Ladies and Chosen Generation Angels enter relegation playoffs to determine which sides can retain their Championship status.
Quick facts
- Four clubs—DreamStar Ladies, Pelican Stars, Rangers Women and Imo Strikers Queens—qualified as group winners for promotion playoff fixtures.
- Two promotion slots are available at the 2026 NWFL Championship Super Playoffs.
- Relegation playoffs will involve First Mahi Babes, Gallant Queens, Fortress Ladies and Chosen Generation Angels.
- DreamStar Ladies play hosts Pelican Stars in one of the promotion playoff matches.
- First Mahi Babes face Gallant Queens in a relegation playoff.
DreamStar Ladies vs Pelican Stars headlines one of the two promotion playoff ties, with both teams chasing the same prize—an immediate return to the Premiership.
DreamStar Ladies finished first in Group A on seven points from three matches, netting five times and conceding twice. The Lagos-based outfit will be particularly motivated to bounce back quickly after being relegated in 2024.
Pelican Stars arrive in confident mood after winning every group match. The Calabar side scored five goals and allowed just one, and they will be determined to avoid a repeat of their 2024 disappointment when they fell short in the promotion race against Honey Badgers.
Rangers Women vs Imo Strikers Queens is set to be another stern test for Premiership aspirations, bringing together two teams with contrasting paths to the playoffs.
Rangers Women recovered from an opening draw, then strung together two successive wins to finish with seven points. They found the net only three times—the lowest return among the group winners—while conceding just once.
Imo Strikers Queens have been the standout story of the tournament. They won all three group games, produced a competition-high 10 goals, and are still the only team to have not conceded, giving them a strong case as one of the favourites for promotion.
Relegation playoffs
With their places in the Championship on the line, First Mahi Babes and Gallant Queens meet in a do-or-die encounter designed to decide who stays up.
First Mahi Babes endured a harsh group stage, losing all three matches. They scored three goals, conceded seven, and ended the campaign without picking up a single point.
Gallant Queens were similarly under pressure, managing just two goals while shipping six during the group phase—setting up a tense clash where survival is the target.
Fortress Ladies and Chosen Generation Angels will also fight for their Championship status after both finished the group stage with one point.
Fortress Ladies scored twice and conceded four across three matches, while Chosen Generation Angels struggled to find the net, failing to score throughout the tournament and conceding five goals.
With promotion and survival both at stake, today’s playoff fixtures are set to deliver high intensity as each team battles for its future in Nigeria’s women’s football.
