2018 Nigeria Women Premier League


The 2018 Nigeria Women Premier League began on April 7 in a game featuring defending champions Nasarawa Amazons from Nasarawa State and FC Robo of Lagos State. The date was decided following a congress held in Ikeja on March 3. Prior to the game, a maiden super cup named the NWFL Champions Shield match was played between Aiteo Cup winners, Rivers Angels and Nasarawa Amazons to officially open the new season. At the end of the 2017 season, Sure Babes of Ilorin, Jokodolu Babes of Ogbomosho and Taraba Queens of Taraba State were promoted to compete in the elite division pending registration procedures, while Saadatu Amazons of Minna and Heartland Queens of Owerri were relegated to the pro league. In May 2018, the league went on a mid-season break due to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, this was further elongated after an emerging NFF leadership crisis. In August 2018, it was announced that the remaining games of the league will commence September 12.

Format

The teams are divided into two groups of eight teams, of which the top two teams from each group will play in a super 4 mini-tournament tagged the NWPL Super 4 at the end of the season to determine the overall winner of the league. Each team is to play every team in her group twice on a home and away basis. The last placed teams in each group will be relegated to the pro league.

Teams

GroupTeamLocationGround2017 rankHead coach
Group A-----
Group AEdo QueensEdo State6th in 1bKen Aigbe
Group AHeartland QueensOwerriRelegated; 7th in 1aUche Eucharia
Group AConfluence QueensKogi State4th in 1bMaja Nayashi
Group ARivers AngelsRivers State2nd in 1aEdwin Okon
Group ASure BabesIlorinPromoted; 1st in div 2bAbdullah Ganiyu
Group ADelta QueensDelta State1st in 1bClifford Chukwuma
Group ABayelsa QueensBayelsa State1st in 1aMichael Ekpeyong
Group AIbom AngelsUyo4th in 1aWhyte Ogbonda
Group B-----
Group BJokodolu BabesOgbomoshoPromoted; 2nd in div 2bAhmed Mohammed
Group BFC RoboLagos5th in 1aEmmanuel Osahon
Group BPelican StarsCalabar7th in 1bAdat Egan
Group BSunshine QueensAkure3rd in 1aMathew Wemimo
Group BOsun BabesOsogbo5th in 1bLiadi Bashiru
Group BNasarawa AmazonsNasarawa State2nd in 1bChristopher Danjuma
Group BAdamawa QueensAdamawa State3rd in 1bBaba Buba
Group BAbia AngelsAbia State6th in 1aAnn Chiejine

;Note

Memorable moments

In a week 8 fixture, FC Robo defeated Abia Angels with Nigerian international, Rasheedat Ajibade scoring 4 goals in the game.

League standings

Nigeria Women Pro League - Division 2

The division two teams seeking to gain promotion ahead of the 2019 Nigeria Women Premier League were Moje Queens of Kwara State, Police Machine of Akwa Ibom, Saadatu Amazons of Minna, Gift of Life, Invincible Angels of Gboko, Dream Stars of Lagos and Faith Hill Queens. In November 2018, it was confirmed that Dream Stars and Invincible Angels will be promoted to the elite division.

Top scorers

RankPlayerTeamGoals
1Anam ImoNasarawa Amazons8
2Anjor MaryOsun Babes6
3Rasheedat AjibadeFC Robo5
3Alice OgebeRivers Angels5
3Brigitte OmboudouDelta Queens5
3Ikhekhua OghenebrumeDelta Queens5
3Tina OyatelemhiSunshine Queens5
8Reuben CharityIbom Angels
Bayelsa Queens		4