The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) has confirmed that the 2026 NWFL Championship will be staged in Calabar, Cross River State, with the second-tier competition scheduled to take place from July 9 to 16, 2026.
The championship returns to Calabar two years after the city successfully hosted the 2024 edition and will feature 16 clubs competing for two promotion places to the NWFL Premiership.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the league’s spokesperson, Samuel Ahmadu, participating teams are expected to arrive in Calabar on Thursday, July 9, ahead of the commencement of the tournament.
NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi, disclosed that the official draw for the competition will hold on Monday, June 29, where the 16 clubs will be divided into four groups.
She added that groupings and other competition details would be communicated to all participating teams immediately after the draw.
Activities will begin with a pre-match meeting on Friday, July 10, while competitive action gets underway on Saturday, July 11, with Matchday One producing eight fixtures across two venues.
After a scheduled rest day on Sunday, July 12, the competition resumes on Monday, July 13, for Matchday Two before the group phase concludes on Tuesday, July 14.
Another rest day follows on Wednesday, July 15, with the decisive play-off matches taking place on Thursday, July 16, to determine the teams that will secure promotion.
At the end of the championship, the top two teams will gain promotion to the NWFL Premiership, while the bottom three clubs will be relegated to the NWFL Nationwide League.
The NWFL has urged all participating clubs to comply with the competition’s rules, operational guidelines, and timelines to ensure a smooth and successful tournament.
