From the South-South derby featuring Delta Queens and Rivers Angels to the South-East battle between Heartland Queens and Abia Angels, Matchday 11 of the 2023/2024 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership promises an array of thrilling encounters.
As the NWFL Premiership approaches its climax, teams in both groups are gearing up for crucial clashes with implications for Super Six qualification and the battle against relegation.
Group A
Adamawa Queens vs Naija Ratels – A clash involving two teams from the Northern part of the country will see both sides continue their quest to beat the drop. Only Royal Queens are behind the two teams in the group and they will need to get a win to stay clear of the drop zone. Naija Ratels won the reverse fixture 2-1 in Abuja with goals from Atume Doorsuur and Anani Oluwaseun’s own goal. With four wins to their credit this season, Adamawa Queens seek their fifth win while Naija Ratels searches for their fourth win and first win away from home. Naija Ratels completed a double over Adamawa Queens in both sides’ previous head-to-head meetings during the 2021/2022 season.
Royal Queens vs Confluence Queens – After a 0-0 draw with Abia Angels last week, Royal Queens need to start winning games to move out of the relegation zone. The bottom team in the group has won two out of their last ten games and will face Confluence Queens which is high in confidence with five wins and two losses. Confluence Queens recently secured a 2-0 success over Adamawa Queens in Iyamho Stadium, Auchi. Sabo Okala’s side won the reverse fixture 1-0 at home and hope to get a double over the strugglers. Confluence Queens won the only league meeting between both sides with a 2-1 triumph on March 31, 2021.
Heartland Queens vs Abia Angels – South-East derby will see Abia Angels visit Heartland Queens at the Dan Anyiam Stadium. Heartland Queens which won the reverse fixture 2-1 away from home seek to solidify their leadership position after edging second-placed Nasarawa Amazons last week. Obi Ogbala’s side is enjoying a good run of form this season winning five of their ten games with two losses. Abia Angels is also having a decent run in the league with three points short of qualification for the Super Six. Their target remained to qualify for the Super Six which is a work in progress with results in their favour so far.
Nasarawa Amazons vs Dannaz Ladies – Dannaz Ladies travel North to face Nasarawa Amazons in Lafia. Both sides were not separated in the reverse fixture in Lagos. After a slim loss to Heartland Queens last week, the Solid Miners hope to return to winning ways in their quest to qualify for the Super Six. On their debut league season, Dannaz is having a dream season with three points short of making the Super Six.
Group B
Bayelsa Queens vs Remo Stars Ladies – Debutants Remo Stars Ladies take their first trip to Yenegoa to face former winners, Bayelsa Queens at the Samson Siasia Stadium. The first-ever league encounter between both sides ended in a 1-1 draw in Ikenne with Adaobi Okah’s last-gasp equaliser canceling put Chinyere Igboamalu’s opener. Domo Okara’s side got a win in Ado Ekiti against Ekiti Queens last week and aims to consolidate on that at the top of the group. With five wins and a loss so far, the Prosperity Girls are proving their worth as league contenders. Wemimo Matthew’s side picked their third win of the campaign last week against holders, Delta Queens, and are also in good form ahead of this clash.
FC Robo Queens vs Ekiti Queens – After a disappointing 3-0 loss to Sunshine Queens in Akure where the Lagos Landladies conceded all goals in the first 11 minutes, a win here over their last opponents neighbors will help their resolve to make it to consecutive Super Six. Both sides lost their games last week and need to bounce back in their diverse league aspirations. There was nothing to separate both sides the last time out on Ado Ekiti as the game ended in a 0-0 draw. Ekiti Queens need to start picking points from all sides with time no longer on their side to escape relegation as an instant return to second-tier NWFL Championship looms after ten games.
Edo Queens vs Sunshine Queens – After a resounding 4-1 win over Rivers Angels, a surprise scoreline by all standards given both sides’ quality, Edo Queens welcome Sunshine Queens to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City. Moses Aduku’s side hopes to get a double over the Akure-based side after Mafisere Kafayat scored the winner in a 1-0 win on Matchday Three. In the third position and the host needs another home win to ward off fourth-placed FC Robo Queens which are on their heels. Edo Queens has won one of the last two head-to-head encounters with a 0-0 recorded on January 6, 2021. They have won four out of five home games this season with a draw against Bayelsa Queens the only dropped points in Benin City. Sunshine Queens has lost all five away games prosecuted this season.
Rivers Angels vs Delta Queens – A South-South derby will see Delta Queens travel to Port Harcourt to face Rivers Angels. It has always been a keenly contest encounter between both sides. This time around, they are on different ends of the table as the Pride of Rivers in second position hope to get a favourable result at home to add to their five wins haul. The Pearls are on the sixth position, four points above the drop zone. It hasn’t been a successful defence of he league title for Tosan Blankson side as they risk qualification for the Super Six for the first time in a long while. They won the reverse fixture 2-0 in Asaba thanks to goals from Adegbemile Rebecca a and Olabiyi Folajomi. Delta Queens has won just one out of the last eight head-to-head games which was the last game. Rivers Angels has won two with the other five games ending in draws. On December 16, 2020, Rivers Angels had their biggest win over Delta Queens in a 6-2 win on the way to winning the league title.
With each match carrying significant implications for the league standings, fans can expect an action-packed Matchday 11 as teams battle for supremacy in the NWFL Premiership.