Sports
My Successor Must Be Better Than Me – SWAN President
Outgoing President of
the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, Saidu Abubakar, has challenged his successor to be hard working if he is to continue the process of moving the association forward.
With SWAN national elections scheduled for July next month, members are already indicating interest to vie for different positions, that of president included.
Abubakar who has served two tenures as president of SWAN says a successor who must be able to do 200% better than what he meets on ground is what he expects of whoever becomes the new Association president.
I expect that anybody that is going to take over from me must be somebody who can do 200% better than I have done.
I am not planning to install anybody anyway but whoever it is I expect that person must brace up and be ready to take up a very serious challenge.
The amiable Abubakar says his tenure witnessed numerous achievements chief of which is instilling of a level of peace amongst warring factions in different chapters across the country.
It is his hope that such a calm atmosphere would help the incoming executives achieve the common goal of moving the association and its members to a higher pedestal.
The peaceful atmosphere that we’ve had during our time is one thing I can be proud of.
That atmosphere that we have been able to create we hope our successors would come and build on.
It is a very good platform which we didn’t meet and we had to start from the scratch but now we are bequeathing a very conducive atmosphere and environment for our members and the incoming exco also to operate in.
Vice president South-South of the association, Honour Sirawoo has indicated interest to succeed Abubakar as president of SWAN and has promised not to disappoint if he succeeds at the polls next month.
In a statement released by the league, the competition is scheduled to take place from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 14, 2026, with six clubs set to battle for the league title at the end of the 2025/26 season.
NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi, said the choice of Port Harcourt reflects the Rivers State Government’s continued support for women’s football and its successful hosting of the league’s Annual General Assembly last year.
The Super Six tournament will feature the top three teams from Group A and Group B of the regular season competing in a round-robin format, with each club playing five matches over nine days.
Qualified teams for the competition include defending champions Bayelsa Queens, Edo Queens, Rivers Angels, Robo Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, and debutants Abia Angels.
The NWFL Premiership has produced four different winners in the last five editions, with Rivers Angels winning in 2021, Bayelsa Queens claiming the title in 2022 and 2025, Delta Queens triumphing in 2023, and Edo Queens emerging champions in 2024.
The league also urged participating clubs to comply with all competition regulations and directives ahead of the championship. The Super Six will determine Nigeria’s representative for the WAFU-B qualifiers for a place at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League and ultimately the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
Teams are expected to arrive on Friday, June 5, when the draw ceremony and pre-match meeting will also take place. Matchdays are scheduled for June 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, with rest days in between before the tournament concludes with the trophy presentation ceremony.
