2022–23 NWFL Premiership

The 2022–23 NWFL Premiership was the 33rd season of Nigeria's top flight women's football league and the third season since its rebranding. The regular season commenced 30 November 2022 and ended 19 April 2023 with the playoffs taking place from 6 to 11 June 2023.[1][2]

2022–23 NWFL Premiership
Season2022–23
Dates30 November 2022–19 April 2023 (Regular season)

6–11 June 2023 (Playoffs)
ChampionsDelta Queens (6th title)
Promoted
Relegated
CAF Women's Champions LeagueDelta Queens
Matches played92
Goals scored187 (2.03 per match)
Top goalscorerMercy Omokwu (9 goals)
Biggest home winRobo Queens 7–1 Ibom Angels (5 April 2023)
Highest scoringRobo Queens 7–1 Ibom Angels (5 April 2023)
All statistics correct as of 11 June 2023.

Like the previous season, it is an abridged league with two groups of 7 teams, after which is followed by a Super six play-off tournament for the top three teams in each group.

Heartland Queens and Ibom Angels were promoted from the NWFL Championship replacing Sunshine Queens and Pelican Stars who were relegated the previous season.

Alongside Osun Babes, Ibom Angels failed to retain their place and returned to the Championship.[3]

On 11 June, Delta Queens defeated defending champions Bayelsa Queens at the super six final to claim their sixth title and earn the right to play at the 2023 CAF Women's Champions League.[4]

Clubs

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Clubs Stadium City
Adamawa Queens Pantami Stadium Yola
Abia Angels Umuahia Township Stadium Umuahia
Bayelsa Queens Yenagoa Township Stadium Yenagoa
Confluence Queens Confluence Stadium Lokoja
Delta Queens Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba
Edo Queens University of Benin Sports Complex

Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium
Benin City
Heartland Queens Dan Anyiam Stadium Owerri
Ibom Angels Godswill Akpabio Stadium Training Pitch Uyo
Naija Ratels Aper Aku Stadium Makurdi
Nasarawa Amazons F.C. Lafia Township Stadium Lafia
Osun Babes Osogbo Stadium Osogbo
Rivers Angels Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium Port Harcourt
Robo Legacy Pitch Lagos
Royal Queens Warri Township Stadium Warri

Regular season

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Group A

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Table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Delta Queens 12 7 5 0 19 5 +14 26 Play-offs
2 Bayelsa Queens 12 7 4 1 18 5 +13 25
3 Rivers Angels 12 4 6 2 8 7 +1 18
4 Naija Ratels 12 3 4 5 10 11 −1 13
5 Heartland Queens 12 3 3 6 6 13 −7 12
6 Royal Queens 12 2 4 6 4 12 −8 10
7 Osun Babes 12 2 2 8 6 18 −12 8 Relegated
Source: TheNWFL

Results

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Home \ Away BAY DEL HEA RAT OSU RIV ROY
Bayelsa Queens 1–1 0–0 3–0 4–0 2–0 1–0
Delta Queens 2–1 3–1 2–0 3–0 1–1 3–0
Heartland Queens 0–0 0–2 0–2 2–0 0–0 1–0
Naija Ratels 1–1 0–0 3–1 3–0 0–1 1–1
Osun Babes 0–1 1–2 2–0 0–0 0–0 2–0
Rivers Angels 1–2 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–1
Royal Queens 0–2 0–0 0–1 1–0 1–0 0–0
Source: TheNWFL
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group B

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Table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Edo Queens 12 8 1 3 24 10 +14 25 Play-offs
2 Robo Queens 12 7 1 4 24 11 +13 22
3 Confluence Queens 12 6 3 3 15 15 0 21
4 Nasarawa Amazons 12 6 2 4 19 10 +9 20
5 Adamawa Queens 12 4 2 6 7 18 −11 14
6 Abia Angels 12 3 2 7 7 12 −5 11
7 Ibom Angels 12 2 1 9 6 26 −20 7 Relegated
Source: TheNWFL

Results

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Home \ Away ABI ADA CON EDO IBM NAS ROB
Abia Angels 1–0 1–2 0–1 0–0 1–2 1–0
Adamawa Queens 1–0 1–0 1–1 2–0 1–0 1–2
Confluence Queens 1–1 0–0 2–1 2–0 0–0 2–1
Edo Queens 0–1 4–0 4–2 4–0 3–2 2–0
Ibom Angels 1–0 2–0 0–1 0–2 0–1 2–3
Nasarawa Amazons 2–1 5–0 2–3 1–0 4–0 0–1
Robo Queens 2–0 3–0 4–0 1–2 7–1 0–0
Source: TheNWFL
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Play-offs

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The Super six playoffs was played between 6-11 June 2023 in two groups of three teams. The top teams from both groups played a final match to decide the champion who also earns the right to play at the 2023 CAF Women's Champions League regional qualifying stage.[2]All matches were played at Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Bayelsa Queens 2 2 0 0 2 0 +2 6 Qualified for the final and CAF WCL
2 Rivers Angels 2 1 0 1 2 1 +1 3 Third place
3 Robo Queens 2 0 0 2 0 3 −3 0
Updated to match(es) played on 7 June 2023. Source: TheNWFL
Home \ Away BAY RIV ROB
Bayelsa Queens 1–0 1–0
Rivers Angels 2–0
Robo Queens
Updated to match(es) played on 7 June 2023. Source: TheNWFL
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Delta Queens 2 1 1 0 3 1 +2 4 Qualified for the final and CAF WCL
2 Confluence Queens 2 1 0 1 2 3 −1 3 Third place
3 Edo Queens 2 0 1 1 0 1 −1 1
Updated to match(es) played on 7 June 2023. Source: TheNWFL
Home \ Away CON DEL EDO
Confluence Queens 1–0
Delta Queens 3–1
Edo Queens 0–0
Updated to match(es) played on 7 June 2023. Source: TheNWFL
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Third place match

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11 June 2023 Rivers Angels 2–0 Confluence Queens Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba
12:00 (UTC+1) Okwuchukwu   61'
Oghenebrume   68'

Final

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Winner is the champion and qualifies for the 2023 CAF Women's Champions League.

11 June 2023 Delta Queens 2–1 Bayelsa Queens Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba
16:00 (UTC+1) Agoh   67', 86' Report Henry   14' (o.g.)

Top scorers

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Rank Player Club Goals
1   Mercy Omokwu Delta Queens 9
2   Chinaza Agoh 8
3   Okah Adaobi Edo Queens/Rivers Angels 6
  Sabastine Flourish Bayelsa Queens
  Agams Nkechi Abia Angels
  Ijamilusi Folashade Robo Queens
7   Aweda Titilayo Nasarawa Amazons 5
  Chioma Moses Confluence Queens/Edo Queens
  Osigwe Chukuwuamaka Confluence Queens

Season's awards

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Award Winner Club
Best Player Chinaza Agoh Delta Queens[5][6]
League Topscorer Omokwo Mercy
Best goalkeeper Mgbechi Anderline

References

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  1. ^ "NWFL Premiership 2022/2023 to kickoff on November 30th 2022". Echonews Nigeria Community News. 2022-11-25.
  2. ^ a b "NWFL confirms new Premiership Super 6 start date – The NWFL". 2023-06-01.
  3. ^ "Osun, Ibom Angels relegated as NWFL season ends". Punch Newspapers. 2023-04-20.
  4. ^ "Delta Queens emerge champions of NWFL dethrone Bayelsa Queens". The Guardian. 2023-06-11.
  5. ^ "Delta Queens Mgbechi Anderline and Chinaza Agoh delighted after winning individual awards". Pulse Sports Nigeria. 17 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Delta Queens' Mercy Omokwo explains how she became NWFL top goalscorer". Pulse Sports Nigeria. 17 June 2023.
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