Four teams—Heroes Queens, Kaduna Queens, Chosen Generation Angels, and DreamStar Ladies—will compete for two spots to remain in the second tier of Nigerian women’s football.
The teams have arrived in Calabar for the 2024 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Championship relegation playoffs, aiming to secure their place in the league.
After failing to win any of their group stage matches, these teams now face a crucial battle to avoid relegation to the third tier.
DreamStar Ladies vs. Heroes Queens
In one of the relegation playoffs, DreamStar Ladies and Heroes Queens will clash. Both teams struggled during the group stage and finished at the bottom of their respective groups.
DreamStar Ladies, despite having top-flight experience from three seasons ago, ended up at the bottom of Group B2, trailing behind Hong Badgers, Kwara Ladies, and Fortress Ladies.
Heroes Queens, making their debut in the second tier, finished last in Group A1 behind Pelican Stars, Imo Striker Queens, First Mahi Babes, and Castmog Ladies. However, their 2-2 draw with Pelican Stars in their final group game showed some promise.
Chosen Generation Angels vs. Kaduna Queens
In the second playoff, Chosen Generation Angels will face off against Kaduna Queens. Kaduna Queens had a difficult season, conceding 21 goals and scoring only once in Group A2, finishing without any points. They are in dire need of a win to avoid relegation.
On the other hand, Chosen Generation Angels, who are debuting in the Championship, finished last in Group B1 with just one point, trailing behind former top-flight teams such as Ibom Angels, Unification FC, Delta Babes, and Papa Soccer Angels.
Despite their challenging season, Chosen Generation Angels are considered the favorites to retain their league status against Kaduna Queens.
The winners of these two crucial relegation playoff matches will secure their place in the NWFL Championship for the next season, while the losers will be relegated to the third tier.