NWFL Championship Matchday Four Preview: Promotion, Relegation Places Up For Grabs

By Saheed Afolabi

After three rigorous 2026 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Championship group stage matches, four clubs have extended their promotion playoffs hopes after qualifying for the last stage to determine the eventual slots to the NWFL Premiership. While the bottom placed teams in the group stage will fight it on for the relegation playoffs to determine those who will retain their status in the Championship or those who will relegate to the Nationwide.

DreamStar Ladies took the solitary spot in Group A, Pelican Stars rose to the top of Group B, while Rangers Women and Imo Strikers took the only spots in Group C and D.

Promotion Playoffs 

DreamStar Ladies vs Pelican Stars 

After accumulating seven points from three games, DreamStar Ladies faces hosts, Pelican Stars who have nine maximum points from three games.

The Galacticas scored five goals and conceded two on their path to the decisive playoffs where they are hoping to write history on the same ground that they got relegated in 2024, while Pelican Stars netted five goals and conceded one as they aim not to have a repeat of the 2024 edition where they lost to Honey Badgers.

Rangers Women vs Imo Strikers Queens 

NWFL Championship debutants, Rangers Women will trade tackles with Imo Strikers Queens for one of the NWFL Premiership spot available to grab.

Rangers Women didn’t start well as they drew their first game before winning the subsequent games and they scored the fewest number of goals among the table toppers, while Imo Strikers Queens had maximum nine points in three games.

Rangers Women seven points in three games also had them scoring three goals in three games and one goal conceded against Wazbak Queens.

Imo Strikers are the highest scoring side in the group stage with ten goals scored and they remain the only side that are yet to concede a goal in the 2026 Championship.

Relegation Playoffs 

First Mahi Babes vs Gallant Queens

First Mahi Babes will slug it out with Gallant Queens as they fight for survival.

First Mahi Babes is the only bottom place team that didn’t record any point in the group stage. They conceded seven goals and scored three goals.

Gallant Queens scored two goals while letting in six goals in the group stage.

Fortress Ladies vs Chosen Generation Angels 

Both clubs finished their respective group with a point apiece.

Fortress Ladies could only score two goals while conceding four goals in three games, while Chosen Generation was the only team who couldn’t find the back of the net in the group stage as they conceded five goals.