Bayelsa Queens head coach Ogbonda Whyte has called for major infrastructure improvements and increased sponsorship to strengthen the Nigeria Women’s Football League NWFL as it enters its second phase.
Speaking on women’s football challenges, Whyte emphasized that poor playing surfaces and lack of financial support are key obstacles to the sport’s growth in Nigeria.
“Most clubs don’t have good playing grounds, and when you play on such surfaces, it affects the quality of football. Sponsorship is another major issue it’s hard for private teams to sustain themselves without external financial backing.”
Whyte proposed a league-wide sponsorship model, where both the NWFL and individual clubs actively seek financial support. He noted that while government-backed teams have better financial stability, privately-owned clubs struggle due to limited funding.
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He urged stakeholders to secure long-term sponsorship deals, stressing that better financial backing would enhance player welfare, competition quality, and the overall development of women’s football in Nigeria.
Editorial
The issues raised by Ogbonda Whyte highlight a longstanding problem in Nigerian women’s football—the lack of proper infrastructure and financial backing. While women’s football in Europe and the United States continues to grow rapidly, Nigerian clubs still face fundamental challenges that limit their progress.
A major solution would be for corporate sponsors and government bodies to invest in the NWFL, just as seen in top leagues like the FA Women’s Super League (England) and Liga F (Spain). Private teams, in particular, need access to better funding, ensuring that women’s football becomes self-sustainable rather than relying on government support alone.
If Nigeria is serious about developing female footballers to compete on the global stage, immediate action is needed to improve playing conditions and financial stability in the league. The success of the Super Falcons on the world stage should serve as motivation for deeper investment at the club level.
Did You Know?
- The Nigeria Women’s Football League NWFL is one of the oldest women’s leagues in Africa, yet it still lacks consistent sponsorship deals.
- Bayelsa Queens won the CAF Women’s Champions League in 2022, proving that Nigerian women’s clubs can compete at the highest level.
- Unlike male NPFL teams, most NWFL clubs struggle financially, with players often earning lower wages and lacking basic facilities.
- In contrast, top European women’s leagues have secured multi-million dollar sponsorships, boosting their global visibility and competitiveness.
- The Super Falcons have dominated women’s football in Africa, winning 11 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations AWCON titles, yet many of their players struggle at the club level due to lack of investment.
