NWFL Announces New Dates for Super 4

The board of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) has announced a shift in date for the annual football fiesta, the Nigeria Women’s Premier League (NWPL) Super Four.

The championship, which will make known the champions of the 2016/17 Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL), will now be held between October 9 and 14 in Benin City, Edo State.

Officials and the participating teams — Bayelsa Queens, Delta Queens, Nasarawa Amazons and title holders, Rivers Angels — are expected to arrive in Benin City on Saturday, October 7 while the teams will use the time in between to train prior to the commencement of competitive matches on the 9th of October.

The championship was initially billed for September 11 through 16 in Benin City, Edo State.

The NWFL board chairperson, Aisha Falode, said the postponement, though a difficult decision, becomes necessary because of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup qualifiers between Nigeria’s Falconets and their Tanzanian counterparts taking place in Nigeria on September 16 and Sunday, October 1 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

“The NWFL board is compelled to shift the date of the NWPL Super Four championship due to the FIFA U-20 World Cup qualifying matches between Nigeria’s Falconets and Tanzania on Saturday, September 16 in Nigeria and October 1 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania respectively.

“The 2017 Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL) will now run from October 9-14 in Benin City, Edo State.
“Teams and officials are expected to arrive on October 7, while the teams will use the time in between to train and unwind for competition proper commencing on Monday, October 9.

“The decision is a difficult one but we took into consideration the fact that many of the players involved in the FIFA U20 World Cup qualifying matches, including the Head Coach, Christopher Danjuma, are part and parcel of the Super Four championship.

“We have always dreamed of the NWPL Super Four championship with excitement, character and quality that will not only showcase the best of women football to the outside world but also to give the needed dividend to our hosts and potential sponsors.

“We have a responsibility to end the already successful league season on high and the best way to achieve that mileage is to give everybody equal opportunity.

“We sincerely regret any inconvenience the slight adjustment in date will cause to the teams, stakeholders, hosts, and sponsors among others.

“We are committed to organising the best ever NWPL Super Four championship in the annals of women football,” said Falode to supersport.com.

Nasarawa Amazons will kick off the championship against Bayelsa Queens on Monday, October 9 while Delta Queens take on the Cup holders, Rivers Angels, in the second match of Match-day 1 clash.

The winners of the Super Four championship will go home with a prized sum of Three Million Naira (N3m) while the runners-up will pocket N2million respectively.