The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) has officially confirmed Calabar, Cross River State, as the host city for the 2026 NWFL Championship, setting the stage for another major women’s football tournament in Nigeria.
According to an official communication released by the league management and signed by Chief Operating Officer Modupe Shabi, the competition will take place from July 9 to July 16, 2026, with clubs across the country battling for promotion to the elite NWFL Premiership.
The announcement not only confirms the venue and dates but also marks Calabar’s growing importance in women’s football development in Nigeria.
One of the major talking points from the announcement is the league’s continued confidence in Calabar as a reliable host city.
The 2026 edition will mark the second time in three years that Calabar will host the NWFL Championship, having previously staged the tournament in 2024.
In between, Abia State hosted the 2025 edition, before the league once again returned hosting rights to Cross River State for 2026.
The decision highlights Calabar’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s trusted sporting destinations, especially for national football competitions.
With its strong sporting culture, infrastructure, and history of hosting successful tournaments, the city is gradually becoming a major home for women’s football events in Nigeria.
The NWFL Championship remains one of the most important competitions in Nigerian women’s football because it determines which clubs earn promotion to the top-flight league.
The two best-performing clubs will secure promotion to the NWFL Premiership
The two lowest-ranked clubs will face relegation from the Championship structure
For many participating clubs, Calabar represents an opportunity to change their future and take the next step toward elite football.
The league has confirmed that participating clubs will be divided into four groups:
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
The official draw is scheduled to hold online on Monday, June 29, 2026, where clubs will discover their opponents ahead of the competition.
Further details and access links will be communicated directly to participating teams.
The NWFL also released the official programme for the championship.
2026 NWFL Championship Calendar
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Arrival of Teams
Friday, July 10, 2026
Pre-Match Meeting – 5:00 PM
Saturday, July 11, 2026
Matchday 1 – 8 Matches Across Two Venues
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Rest Day
Monday, July 13, 2026
Matchday 2 – 8 Matches Across Two Venues
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Matchday 3 – 8 Matches Across Two Venues
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Rest Day
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Matchday 4 – Playoff Matches
NWFL Continues Expansion of Women’s Football
The repeated selection of Calabar also reflects the NWFL’s strategy of taking women’s football competitions to cities with strong organizational capacity.
The road to the NWFL Premiership officially leads to Calabar once again.
With Cross River State hosting the tournament for the second time in three years after staging it in 2024, while Abia State hosted the 2025 edition, expectations are already building for another highly competitive championship.
For clubs chasing promotion, July in Calabar could become the most important week of their season.
Nigeria women’s football is growing rapidly and Calabar remains right at the center of that journey.
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