Nigeria Women Football League, NWFL, action resumes with renewed intensity as the 2025/26 season enters its decisive second stanza, and the numbers from the first half of the campaign are already painting a compelling picture. From dominant title contenders and surprise performers to relegation struggles and unusual off-pitch drama, the statistics reveal patterns that go far beyond what the league table alone can show.
With a record 81 matches already played by midseason and 181 goals scored across both groups, the campaign has produced intriguing trends in home advantage, goal timing, defensive solidity and match control among the competing teams. The data also highlights the contrasting fortunes of clubs battling for playoff spots and those fighting to avoid the drop.
In this comprehensive breakdown, Completesports.com’s ALLI FESOMADE dives deep into the numbers, uncovering the key statistical trends, standout teams and hidden narratives shaping the NWFL season so far.
The 2025/26 season has the highest number of games played (81) by midseason in the league’s history and 181 goals have been scored across the two groups (87 in Group A and 97 in Group B) excluding walkovers.
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The data from the NWFL 2025/26 first stanza have been analysed and insights from them summarised in this story. Before we proceed into numbers, visualisations and interpretation, let’s see some storylines that have developed both on and off the pitch this season.
NWFL Storylines: Disqualification, Coaching Moves And Off-Pitch Drama
Despite gaining promotion last season, Castmog Ladies could not meet the league’s registration demands and were consequently disqualified, leading to Group A having nine (9) teams instead of ten (10) as it is in Group B.
That disqualification also explains the imbalance in the number of games played per group (36 in Group A, 45 in Group B).
Defending champions, Bayelsa Queens, suffered a surprising defeat to Heartland Queens. High-flying FC Robo also saw their winning streak rudely snapped in Ikenne.
The Osun Babes jersey debacle also added to the drama from the first half of the season. A top-flight professional club making a long trip across two states only to forfeit all three points due to a jersey clash.
Newly promoted Ahudiyannem Queens also turned heads by prying Coach Adanna Nwaneri away from fourth-placed Abia Angels, even amidst their relegation struggles, following the departure of Ann Chiejine.
The league’s postponement this season also sets a record in itself. So far this season, there have been a cumulative total of over fifty-five (55) days in breaks.
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As we gear up for gameweek ten (GW10) action on Wednesday, here is what the numbers say about the season so far.
Match Results: Home Advantage And Group Dynamics
When playing at home, teams have won 51.85% of their games as opposed to 28.40% wins when they are on the road. Draws (19.75%) are also higher this season than they were last season.
Five teams are yet to lose a home game this season; only Heartland Queens sits outside the super six slot. The Owerri side tore through the defending champions to keep their perfect record going.
The groupings this season are also a big factor in how the results have been distributed. Most of the strong sides are in Group A and this overload shows up in the distribution.
The draws recorded in Group B are three times more than the ones in Group A, where the gap in team quality has a polarising effect on match results.
For context, 80% of the goalless draws have come in Group B, largely in games involving newly promoted sides. That is not to say the stronger teams have had it easy either.
All newly promoted sides, except Sunshine Queens, are either deep in a relegation battle or in danger of being pulled into one.
NWFL Goals Analysis: Scoring Trends And Key Statistics
Switching focus to goalscoring, the lowest-scoring gameweek so far this season was GW5 with just 15 goals, equalling the mid-season record last season despite having more games played per week.
Adamawa Queens (2) have scored the most own goals this season, while Sunshine Queens (2) have scored the most penalties. Overall, a total of three own goals and five penalties have been recorded so far this season.
When timing is brought into perspective, teams often start fast this season. About 36% of goals have come in the first thirty minutes of matches this season. Bayelsa Queens lead the way with 14 first-half goals (6 home, 8 away).
FC Robo (9) and Rivers Angels (9) have the next best start but their fortunes differ slightly. FC Robo start faster in away games but Rivers Angels do so in home games.
Five goals have also been recorded after the 90th minute. Remo Stars Ladies’ Deborah Kehinde (90+5) scored the latest goal in a 4-0 demolition of Delta Queens.
Defensive Records: Clean Sheets And Shutout Specialists
On the defensive end of things, Remo Stars Ladies (7), FC Robo (6) and Sunshine Queens (6) lead the pack for clean sheets this season.
Generally, teams struggle to keep clean sheets in away games, as is evident by the two peaks on the curve. Majority have only managed about two clean sheets in home games so far.
RSL and Sunshine Queens also have the highest clean sheets in away games (4), while FC Robo are more solid at home (also 4) and are the best at shutouts across the league in home games.
NWFL Team Performance Trends And Standout Case Studies
To wrap up this NWFL 2025/26 midseason data report, let’s zoom in on team performance. Adamawa Queens got off to a bright start in a group of death but their resolve was quickly dissolved and they experienced a sudden descent.
One fascinating case study is the contrasting fortunes of FC Robo and Naija Ratels. Both teams were vying for playoff slots last season and Naija Ratels beat FC Robo to it.
The story is different this time around, with Naija Ratels (7 pts, -11 gd) deep in relegation struggles and FC Robo (21 pts, +14 gd) currently holding a four-point lead at the summit of Group B.
Edo Queens have scored in every game played this season but they have had to climb out of the abyss (7th position) to a playoff spot (currently 3rd) despite their heavy transfer activity before the season kicked off.
Since starting the season in first position after GW1, Dannaz Ladies have had an unpleasant dip into the relegation zone. Delta Queens, who climbed out of the relegation zone earlier in the season into a playoff slot, are currently settled in a mid-table position.
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Throughout the first stanza, Nasarawa Amazons finished their gameweeks being second or third in Group B, while Pacesetter Queens have consistently been at the bottom of Group A in ninth place.
NWFL Match Situations: Teams Leading, Drawing And Trailing
Looking at match situations, a clear story emerges about the dynamics of this season. Title holders Bayelsa Queens have spent 66% of their gametime being in the lead and only 7.2% behind. They have the best ratio in the league.
They’re joined by FC Robo Queens (50.5% ahead) and Rivers Angels (55.7% ahead) as the only teams that spend more than half their matches in winning positions.
On the other end, Pacesetters Queens (54% trailing) have spent every single minute of every match either losing or drawing, with zero minutes in any leading position.
Dannaz Ladies (51.4% behind) and Confluence Queens (41.7% behind) show similar struggles, with Dannaz spending over 19% of their time trailing by exactly 2 goals, the highest in the league.
The mid-table teams show fascinating contrasts: Sunshine Queens (71.7% draw) spend the most time staying in the fight but lack the killer instinct. It is no surprise they have the most draws (4) in the league.
Heartland Queens and Ekiti Queens present an interesting paradox: both spend significant time behind (41.3% and 41%, respectively) but also show they can compete, with Heartland managing 20.3% of their gametime ahead and Ekiti 12.9%.
This suggests teams like Remo Stars Ladies (50.7% draw, 35.7% lead by 1) and Abia Angels (39.31% draw, 41.67% lead by 1) are getting by but haven’t yet developed the consistency to turn those narrow leads into comfortable victories.
