Sports
2020/2021 League Season: NWFL Picks Dec 9 Kick- Off Date
The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) has picked December 9 as the kick- off date for the 2020/ 2021 premiereship season, across the country.
The women League’s Management Board has said that the date would not be changed as the draws for the 2020/2021 gets closer. The Chief Operating Officer of the League, Mrs Faith Ben-Anuge, in a statement said that the board will soon embark on official inspection of all the designated league venues a cross the country to ensure that all venues are ready for the task ahead.
Anuge, however said that as the deadline for registration for the NWFL Championship and nationwide League closes, more Nigerian women clubs have indicated interest in participating in two tiers of the league.
Earlier, the leadership of the Nigeria Women Football League headed by Aisha Falode, has applauded the management of two NWFL Premiership clubs, former champions, Nazarawa Amazons and Edo Queens Football Club, for beating the deadline for club licensing registration and doing all due diligence ahead of the 2020/21 league season.
Falode, commended the leadership of the two clubs whose actions demonstrated their readiness to take the new season by storm.
“These are two top clubs that just rebuilt the leadership of their club managements to reflect the seriousness of the two state governments in the business of women football.
“Nazarawa and the Edo State government are no doubt in the forefront of women’s football club management in Nigeria. What they just did was sending messages out to other states and privately-owned clubs in the NWFL Premiership, that they are out for a big deal this season. Especially, as all the clubs are top contenders for the inuagural CAF Women Champions League in 2021.
“We in the NWFL salute the two states government for living up to expectations in the Club Licencing / Registration of the clubs. What this tells us is that, the newly adopted straight league would be very interesting as other clubs are putting in extra efforts to make sure they beat the deadline before the expiration,” Falode added
Anuge noted that: “Four new teams have joined the old four in the division to increase the number to a total eight, that would eventually play in the new season, while in the Nationwide, there are a total 20 clubs newly registered in all. This she added was a mark improvement over the previous seasons.
The NWFL Premiership will open on December 9, with matches in Lafia, Yola, Lokoja, Lagos, Yenagoa, Benin City, Umuahia and Osogbo.
Week 1þã Fixtures of the 2020/2021 NWFL Premiership.
(Weds, December 9th, 2020.)
1. Nasarawa Amazons < FCRobo Queens.
2. Adamawa Queens < Rivers Angels
3. Confluence Queens < Ibom Angels
4. Dreams Stars < Delta Queens
5. Bayelsa Queens < Pelican Stars
6. Edo Queens < Royal Queens
7. Abia Angels < Osun Babes
8. Sunshine Queens < Heartland Queens.
By: Nancy Briggs
Pics 1: Fencing in action.
President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, Adeyinka Samuel, has said the country will host a unique 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships as the first sub-Saharan nation to stage the tournament, Tidesports source reports.
The championship will be held in Lagos from August 9 to 14, with the federation announcing that Rugby School Nigeria will host the event.
The Commonwealth Fencing Federation formally awarded the hosting rights for the 2026 championships to Nigeria in March 2025.
“It is the third international tournament the country will host, having also become the first to stage a junior épée World Cup, which was held in Lagos in December 2024. Nigeria also hosted the 23rd African Fencing Championships last year.
Nigeria’s hosting will be unique in several ways. First, it will be the inaugural edition on African soil, giving it historic significance. Second, we are integrating development initiatives such as an international training camp to foster technical exchange. Finally, the event will showcase African hospitality, culture, and energy, offering athletes a rich experience beyond the competition,” Samuel said on Wednesday.
“Preparations have advanced steadily across competition planning, venue readiness, logistics, athlete services, and partnerships.”
He also noted that over 24 Commonwealth nations have already registered.
“We are organising a pre-championship international training camp in Lagos to unite athletes ahead of the competition. Everything is moving in the right direction, and our focus is on delivering a world-class event that reflects Nigeria’s ability to host major international tournaments.”
The last two tournaments hosted by Nigeria were held at Charterhouse Lagos, and Samuel explained the choice of Rugby School Nigeria for this championship.
“The venue was selected for its modern, state-of-the-art facilities and its proximity to hospitality, tourism, and entertainment hubs. This ensures athletes and officials will enjoy excellent accommodation, transport, and leisure options during their stay.”
While thanking the private sector for its support in organising the championship, the president also called for greater government intervention in the fast-growing sport.
“The private sector has shown encouraging support, with institutions like Rugby School Nigeria and companies such as Flour Mills of Nigeria backing the championships. However, stronger government involvement is needed. Hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships is a milestone achievement, and we believe institutional support will help Nigeria maximise the opportunity and deliver a truly memorable event.”
The final draw was concluded at CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday and posted on the body’s website.
Notably, hosts Morocco will face a North African showdown in Group A, drawn alongside Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia.
Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, making Group A particularly competitive.
Group B features former champions Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon, alongside Uganda and debutants DR Congo.
In Group C, 2015 and 2017 champions and last year’s runners-up, Mali, will meet Angola, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
Group D is led by 2023 champions Senegal, who will face South Africa (2015 runners-up),
The eight quarter-finalists from the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
The teams finishing third in each group will contest two play-off matches to determine the final two qualifiers, bringing the total number of African representatives at the global finals to ten nations.
2026 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations – Groups:
- Group A: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia
- Group B: Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, DR Congo
- Group C: Mali, Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique
- Group D: Senegal, South Africa, Algeria, Ghana
Tidesports source reports that Nigeria will not feature at the tournament for the second consecutive edition.
The Golden Eaglets suffered a 2-0 defeat to rivals Ghana in the semi-finals of the WAFU Zone B qualifiers in September 2025, dashing their hopes of advancing to the finals.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will begin their title defence at the 2026 Unity Cup with a semi-final clash against Zimbabwe on May 26 at The Valley in South London, Tidesports source reports.
The four-nation tournament, which also features Jamaica and India, returns to its historic venue after the success of the 2025 edition in Brentford, where Nigeria emerged champions.
The competition, scheduled to run from May 26 to 30, blends elite football with cultural celebration, bringing together Afrocentric and global diaspora communities.
Nigeria’s opening fixture against Zimbabwe serves as a rematch of their recent encounters in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, setting the stage for a highly competitive contest.
The winner will progress to the final on May 30, while the second semi-final between Jamaica and India will be played a day later.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, expressed confidence in the Super Eagles’ chances while acknowledging the quality of the opposition.
“The Nigeria Football Federation is pleased with another opportunity to see the Super Eagles compete at the highly exciting and entertaining Unity Cup Tournament,” Gusau said.
“As perennial champions, the Super Eagles will look to retain their title again this summer, even as they will not underrate the other participating teams viz India, Jamaica and Zimbabwe. The tournament promises to be explosive and that is the setting in which the Super Eagles thrive best.”
The Unity Cup will culminate in a finals day featuring both the third-place play-off and the final, alongside a festival atmosphere that includes cultural showcases, food exhibitions, and live performances.
Zimbabwe Football Association president Nqobile Magwizi described his nation’s participation as a landmark moment, highlighting the opportunity to compete on an international stage in England for the first time.
“The Unity Cup represents far more than a celebration of football and culture, it is a powerful platform that reflects Zimbabwe football’s growing ambition to compete, perform, and excel on the global stage,” Magwizi said.
With Nigeria seeking to retain their crown and rivals eager to make their mark, the opening clash against Zimbabwe is expected to set the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested and culturally vibrant tournament.