The 2017 Nigeria Women Premier League began on March 25, 2017.[2] The date was fixed during the congress for women football league system in Nigeria on February 22, 2017, in Abuja, which had the Minister for Sports, Solomon Dalung in attendance.[3] Martin White Doves, Tokas Queens, Capital City Doves and Taraba Queens were relegated from the previous season. Heartland Queens of Owerri and Sadaatu Kolo Amazons of Niger State were promoted to the elite division. Rofiat Sule, the top scorer of the last two seasons and Evelyn Nwabuoku, captain of the national team amongst others were signed by Rivers Angels F.C.[4] In March 2017, previously relegated Capital City Doves were re-added to the league, increasing the number of teams to seventeen.[5] On 24 March, COD United Amazons F.C. and Capital City Doves were confirmed to be excluded from the league after failing to meet the registration deadline. This reduced the number of teams to fifteen.[6][7]
| Season | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Promoted | Sure Babes Jokodolu Babes Taraba Queens[1] |
| Relegated | Saadatu Amazons Heatland Queens |
| Top goalscorer | Rasheedat Ajibade, Reuben Charity and Vivian Uwandi (8 goals) |
| Biggest home win | FC Robo 5-0 Heartland Queens (Wk 14) |
| Biggest away win | Saadatu Amazon 0-4 Delta Queens (Wk 11) |
| Highest scoring | Delta Queens 5-1 Osun Babes (Wk 14) |
← 2016 2018 → | |
Format
editThe league board adopted an abridged format of eight teams in two groups. The top two teams in each group will play in a super 4 tournament to determine the overall winner of the league.[8] In August 2017, Bayelsa Queens, Rivers Angels, Nasarawa Amazons and Delta Queens qualified for the super four tournament in Benin city .[9][10][11]
Team information
editGroup A
edit| Team | Stadium | Location | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rivers Angels F.C. | Yakubu Gowon Stadium | Rivers State | Edwin Okon[13] |
| Ibom Angels F.C. | Akwa Ibom State | Whyte Ogbonda [14] | |
| FC Robo | Lagos State | Emmanuel Osahon [15] | |
| Bayelsa Queens F.C. | Bayelsa State | Amabebe Ayebatonye | |
| Abia Angels F.C. | Abia State | Ann Chiejine[16] | |
| Heartland Queens F.C. | Eucharia Uche[17] | ||
| Sunshine Queens F.C. | Matthew Wemimo[18] |
Group B
edit| Team | Stadium | Location | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confluence Queens F.C. | Lokoja | Tosin Ojo[19] | |
| Nasarawa Amazons F.C. | Nasarawa State | Christopher Danjuma[20] | |
| Pelican Stars F.C. | Calabar | Adat Egan [21] | |
| Osun Babes F.C. | Osogbo | Liadi Bashir[22] | |
| Sa'adatu Amazons F.C. | Minna | Ibrahim Ladan [21] | |
| Adamawa Queens F.C. | Adamawa State | Bello Mohammed[23] | |
| Edo Queens F.C. | Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium[24] | Edo State | Kenneth Aigbe |
| Delta Queens F.C. | Delta State | Clifford Chukwuma[25] |
Major transfers
edit| Team | Player (former club) |
|---|---|
| Rivers Angels F.C.[26] | Rofiat Sule (Bayelsa Queens), Tochuchukwu Oluehi (Medkila IL), Patience Kalu (Bayelsa Queens), Evelyn Nwabuoku (En Avant de Guingamp), Cecilia Nku (Medkila IL) and Halimatu Ayinde (FC Minsk) |
| Confluence Queens F.C. | Happiness Dauda (Taraba Queens), Ramat Abdulkarim (Abia Angels), Hauwa Abdullahi (Nasarawa Amazons), Esther Momoh (Sunshine Queens) and Tina Oyateleme (Sunshine Queens F.C.) |
| Ibom Angels F.C. | Joy Eroezi, Imaobong Emmanuel, Aniema Ibanga, Okadike Ugochi, Elizabeth Edward, Cynthia Akwasi, Mercy Udo Akpan, Blessing Dabrinze, Racheal Kolawole, Charity Isaiah [27] |
| Delta Queens F.C. | Lilian Cole (Bayelsa Queens), Njoku Chinyere (Capital City Doves), Maryan Ohadiwe (Adamawa Queens) and Amirat Adebisi (FC Robo Queens) |
| Sunshine Queens F.C. | Shola Oyewusi (Rivers Angels F.C.), Winifred Eyebhoria ((Rivers Angels F.C.)), Akudo Ogbonna (FC Robo), Nenna Eke (Ibom Angels), Kate Akpata (Ibom Angels), Alaba Adeusi (Osun Babes F.C.), Yemi Oladidupo and Kemi Odubanjo |
League standings
editGroup A
edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayelsa Queens | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 9 | +8 | 23 | Qualification to the 2017 Super 4 tournament |
| 2 | Rivers Angels | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 9 | +10 | 22 | |
| 3 | Sunshine Queens | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 13 | +3 | 18 | |
| 4 | Ibom Angels | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 13 | +5 | 15 | |
| 5 | FC Robo | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 18 | −2 | 15 | |
| 6 | Abia Angels | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 14 | −6 | 13 | |
| 7 | Heartland Queens | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 25 | −18 | 9 | Relegation to pro league |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Group B
edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delta Queens F.C. | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 11 | +12 | 26 | Qualification to the 2017 Super 4 tournament |
| 2 | Nasarawa Amazons | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 19 | 7 | +12 | 26 | |
| 3 | Adamawa Queens | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 14 | 11 | +3 | 21 | |
| 4 | Confluence Queens | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 21 | |
| 5 | Osun Babes F.C. | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 21 | |
| 6 | Edo Queens F.C. | 14 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 16 | 12 | +4 | 20 | |
| 7 | Pelican Stars F.C. | 14 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 17 | −6 | 15 | |
| 8 | Saadatu Amazons F.C. | 14 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 31 | −28 | 2 | Relegation to pro league |
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Super 4 tournament
editIn August 2017, the league board fixed September 11 to 16th for the commencement of the mini-tournament. Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium will host the event. The winner and runner-up is to get ₦3,000,000 and ₦2,000,000 respectively.[28][29] On September 7, 2017, it was announced that the super four has been rescheduled to hold on October 9-14th in the same venue. This was due to the scheduling conflict with 2018 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup qualifiers and Aiteo Cup games within same period.[30] In October 2017, the NWFL reached an agreement with Akogate Waters for the third place team to get ₦1,000,000 as prize money.[31]
Top scorers
edit- As of end of regular season
| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reuben Charity | Ibom Angels | 8 |
| Rasheedat Ajibade | FC Robo Queens | ||
| Vivian Uwandi | Edo Queens | ||
| 4 | Tessy Biawho | Bayelsa Queens | 6 |
| Ijeoma Obi | Delta Queens | ||
| Monday Gift | FC Robo Queens | ||
| Rosemary Okezie | Delta Queens |
References
edit- ^ "Amazons tackle Robo as 2018 NWPL season begins". Punch. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
- ^ admin (February 23, 2017). "NWFL: Congress passes vote of confidence on board, set kick-off date". vanguardngr.com.
- ^ admin (February 23, 2017). "COMMUNIQUE OF THE 2017 NIGERIA WOMEN FOOTBALL LEAGUE HELD ON THE 22ND OF FEBRUARY, 2017". TheNFF.com.
- ^ Olawole, Olayinka (February 10, 2017). "New Rivers Angels Striker Sule Reflects On Career, Keen To Retain NWPL Top-Scorer". saharareporterssport.com.
- ^ Ahmadu, Samuel (March 10, 2017). "Nigeria Women Premier League clubs get registration deadline". Goal.com.
- ^ Njoku, Humphrey (March 15, 2017). "NWFL sets final date for registration". SuperSport.com.
- ^ Inyang, Ifreke (March 23, 2017). "NWFL frees COD Utd Ladies". Dailypost Nigeria.
- ^ admin (2017). "NWFL Congress picks date for new league season". von.gov.ng.
- ^ "NWPL 2017 Super four teams finalist emerges". SavidNews. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
- ^ "Sunshine Queens battle Rivers Angels as race for Super Four enters home stretch". Guardian Nigeria. 26 July 2017.
- ^ "NWPL Week 13 preview: Teams in super four struggle".
- ^ admin (2017). "NWFL: Women's Oriental Derby Lights up Umuahia". LAdiesMarch.com.
- ^ admin (2017). "Nwabuoku, Nku, Ayinde and Oluehi join Rivers Angels". Goal.com.
- ^ admin (2017). "Whyte Eyes Rivers Angels' Scalp". Nwfl.com.ng. Archived from the original on 2017-04-06. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
- ^ "Expect the best of Robo v Heartland".
- ^ admin (2017). "Chiejine eyes derby win v Heartland". Supersport.com.
- ^ "Heartland v Bayelsa not do-or-die". SuperSport.com. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
- ^ "Wemimo predicts easy tie at Bayelsa".
- ^ "Sports journalist appointed coach of Confluence Queens". Pulse Nigeria. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
- ^ "NWPL: Rivers Angels Defeat Nasarawa Amazon To Claim Title". PM News. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
- ^ a b admin (2017). "NWPL: Pelican Stars Technical Adviser Expresses Delight With Victory Over Sa'adatu". Ladiesmarch.com.
- ^ "Nasarawa Amazons Begin 2016/2017 Season Campaign With 2-0 Win".
- ^ "Adamawa Queens upset Confluence Queens". Archived from the original on 2017-08-07. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
- ^ "WOMEN'S LEAGUE PREVIEW: Giants do battle today".
- ^ "Delta Queens Gaffer Chukwuma Advocates For Attacking Football Against Osun Babes". nwfl.com.ng. Archived from the original on 2017-08-07. Retrieved 2017-08-07.
- ^ Ayodeji, Tunde (March 14, 2017). "NWFL: Champions unveil new signings". FCNaija.com.
- ^ Ubong, Bassey (March 24, 2017). "New-Look Ibom Angels Commence Pre-Season Tour". LadiesMarch.com.
- ^ "Nigeria Women Premier League Super Four tourney get date, venue | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 2017-09-06.
- ^ "Nigeria Women Premier League Super 4: Amazons, Queens to clash in opening match". 17 August 2017.
- ^ "NWFL Announces New Dates for Super 4". This Day. September 7, 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-09.
- ^ Media Officer (2017-10-05). "NWPL Super 4: Official Water To Dole Out N1m To Bronze Medalists". Nigeria Women Football League. Archived from the original on 2017-10-06. Retrieved 2017-10-05.