Pelican Stars, Imo Striker Queens Secure Return to NWFL Premiership
A stoppage time winner and a tense penalty shootout decided the two promotion tickets in Calabar, capping a week long playoff for Nigeria’s top flight women’s football spots.
Want our football coverage to show up first?
Add FootballInNigeria as a preferred source and our stories get a "Preferred" badge in your Google Top Stories, AI Overviews, and AI Mode results.
Pelican Stars and Imo Striker Queens have secured promotion to the 2026/27 Nigeria Women Football League Premiership after winning dramatic promotion playoffs in Calabar.
Pelican Stars booked their spot with a 1-0 win over DreamStar Ladies, settled by a stoppage-time strike from Blessing Ayila that sent the Calabar-based club’s players, coaches, and supporters into wild celebrations.
In the second playoff, Imo Striker Queens edged Rangers Women FC 5-4 on penalties after the match finished goalless following regulation time. The Owerri based side held their nerve in the shootout to seal the second promotion ticket.
Both results cap a competitive week long NWFL Championship campaign for the two sides, who now join the ranks of Nigeria’s top flight women’s clubs ahead of the new season. Attention will now turn to how both clubs prepare to establish themselves at Premiership level.
Did You Know?
- Pelican Stars are based in Calabar, Cross River State.
- Blessing Ayila scored the stoppage time winner that sealed Pelican Stars’ promotion.
- Imo Striker Queens are based in Owerri, Imo State.
- Imo Striker Queens won their playoff 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw with Rangers Women FC.
- Both promotion playoffs were held in Calabar.
- Pelican Stars and Imo Striker Queens both won their respective NWFL Championship groups before reaching the playoffs.
- Both clubs now return to the NWFL Premiership for the 2026/27 season.
