The Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) has fined Ibom Angels FC ₦2.5 million and ordered the club to play their next three home matches behind closed doors following crowd violence and the assault of Bayelsa Queens players and officials after their Matchday 5 Premiership game in Uyo on Wednesday, 7 January 2026.
The sanctions, confirmed by the NWFL on Thursday, came after a review of match officials’ reports and video footage from the incident at the Uyo Township Stadium, where supporters of Ibom Angels invaded the pitch and physically attacked visitors at the final whistle.
According to league regulations, ₦1.5 million of the fine was for breach of Article 26.1 (assault, intimidation and offensive conduct), while ₦1 million was imposed for bringing the game into disrepute and failing to provide adequate security.
In addition to the financial penalty, Ibom Angels must host their next three home matches against Ekiti Queens, Edo Queens and Naija Ratels without supporters present, as stipulated by Article 16.4 of the NWFL regulations.
NWFL Chief Operating Officer Modupe Shabi stated that the league’s actions were aimed at safeguarding player safety and the integrity of the competition and warned that further breaches could result in harsher sanctions, including extended venue bans or additional penalties.
Editorial
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When the roar of victory morphs into the roar of chaos, football ceases to be sport and descends instead into something unrecognisable a spectacle driven not by skill or spirit, but by unrest and disregard. The NWFL’s recent sanctions against Ibom Angels FC — a ₦2.5 million fine and a directive to play three home fixtures behind closed doors are firm reminders of this uncomfortable truth.
What transpired in Uyo was more than a regrettable incident it was a breach of the principles that underpin competition itself. Nigeria’s women’s football, in its ascendancy on both domestic and continental stages, has laboured long to command respect, professionalism and safety. To see that progress threatened by crowd violence strikes not only at the hearts of those directly involved, but at every fan, official and aspirant whose belief is woven into the league’s fabric.
The penalties imposed both financial and logistical are severe yet necessary. In a game where passion is rightly celebrated, there remains an unassailable duty to protect players and officials from harm. Here, the NWFL’s decisive intervention is a statement of institutional resolve that no club, no matter its stature, stands above the rules designed to preserve the dignity and safety of the sport.
Yet this moment is also a broader call to reflection. Sanctions may deter behaviour in the short term, but lasting change demands concerted effort from clubs, from state associations, from security architects and, crucially, from supporters themselves. The terraces should be places of encouragement, not aggression places where joy and disappointment alike are expressed within the bounds of respect.
In imposing these sanctions, the NWFL has chosen principle over convenience. Now the challenge is collective to ensure that Nigerian women’s football continues its rise not just in skill and recognition, but in culture and conduct so that the beautiful game remains just that, on and off the pitch.
Did You Know?
- Ibom Angels’ Match Result The crowd violence occurred after Bayelsa Queens’ 2–1 away win over Ibom Angels in Matchday 5, where visitors’ players and staff were attacked at full-time.
- Assault Details During the pitch invasion, Bayelsa Queens coaching staff and players were physically attacked, with reports of injuries sustained by several team members.
- League’s Safety Stance The NWFL has emphasised in recent seasons that player and official safety is a non-negotiable priority in its disciplinary framework.
- Closed-Door Fixtures Playing matches behind closed doors means no spectators will be allowed at Ibom Angels’ next home games, which can impact both home advantage and revenue.
- Risk of Further Penalties The NWFL has warned that repeat incidents or failure to comply with sanctions could lead to extended bans, point deductions or even further financial penalties.
