The 2018 Nigeria Women Premier League began on April 7 in a game featuring defending champions Nasarawa Amazons from

Nasarawa State Nasarawa is a States of Nigeria, state in the North Central Nigeria, North Central region of Nigeria, bordered to the east by the states of Taraba State, Taraba and Plateau State, Plateau, to the north by Kaduna State, to the south by the states ...

and FC Robo of

Lagos State Lagos State (, ) is a States of Nigeria, state in South West, Nigeria. Of the 36 States of Nigeria, Nigerian states, Lagos is the second List of Nigerian states by population, most populous state but the List of Nigerian states by area, smallest ...

. The date was decided following a congress held in

Ikeja Ikeja is the List of capitals of states of Nigeria, capital city of Lagos State in southwestern Nigeria. Its population, as of the 2006 census, is 313,196. Prior to the emergence of military rule in the early 1980s, Ikeja was a well planned, cl ...

on March 3. Prior to the game, a maiden super cup named the NWFL Champions Shield match was played between

Aiteo Cup The Nigeria Federation Cup is the main football single-elimination tournament in Nigeria contested by 74 teams, representing the 36 states and the FCT of Nigeria. It is the Nigerian domestic cup and the Nigerian equivalent of the FA Cup, Emperor ...

winners,

Rivers Angels Rivers Angels F.C. (formerly Larry Angels F.C.) is a Nigerian professional football club based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in Nigeria. They play in the Nigeria Women Premier League, the top flight in the national female soccer league pyramid ...

and Nasarawa Amazons to officially open the new season. At the end of the 2017 season, Sure Babes of

Ilorin Ilorin is the capital city of Kwara State located in the Western region of Nigeria. The city is a major hub for transportation and commerce in the region. . Retrieved 18 February 2007 Although Ilorin is classified under the North-Central g ...

, Jokodolu Babes of

Ogbomosho Ogbomosho (also known as Ogbomoso and Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́) is a city in Oyo State, south-western Nigeria. It was founded in the mid 17th century. The population was approximately 655,517 in 2024. It is the second largest city in Oyo State and a ...

and Taraba Queens of

Taraba State Taraba is a States of Nigeria, state in north-eastern Nigeria, named after the Taraba River, which traverses the southern part of the state. It is known as "Nature's Gift to the Nation". Its capital is Jalingo. The state's main Demographics ...

were promoted to compete in the elite division pending registration procedures, while Saadatu Amazons of

Minna Minna is a city in the Middle Belt of Nigeria. It is the capital city of Niger State, one of Nigeria's 36 federal states. Its original two major ethnic groups are the Gbagyi and the Nupe peoples. History Archaeological evidence suggests ...

and Heartland Queens of

Owerri Owerri ( , ) is the capital city of Imo State in Nigeria, set in the heart of Igboland. It is also the state's largest city, followed by Orlu, Nigeria, Orlu, Okigwe and Ohaji/Egbema. Owerri consists of three Local Government Areas of Nigeria, Loc ...

were relegated to the pro league. In May 2018, the league went on a mid-season break due to the

2018 FIFA World Cup The 2018 FIFA World Cup was the 21st FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for national association football, football teams organized by FIFA. It took place in Russia from 14 June to 15 July 2018, after the country was awarded t ...

, this was further elongated after an emerging NFF leadership crisis. In August 2018, it was announced that the remaining games of the league will commence September 12.

Format

The teams are divided into two groups of eight teams, of which the top two teams from each group will play in a super 4 mini-tournament tagged the NWPL Super 4 at the end of the season to determine the overall winner of the league. Each team is to play every team in her group twice on a home and away basis. The last placed teams in each group will be relegated to the pro league (division 2).

Teams

;Note

Memorable moments

In a week 8 fixture, FC Robo defeated Abia Angels with Nigerian international, Rasheedat Ajibade scoring 4 goals in the game.

Nigeria Women Pro League - Division 2

The division two teams seeking to gain promotion ahead of the

2019 Nigeria Women Premier League The 2019 Nigeria Women Premier League began July 24, 2019. The league was earlier scheduled to start in February, but due to logistic reasons and commencement of other competitions, it was postponed to March, May then later July. Prior to the sta ...

were Moje Queens of

Kwara State Kwara () is a state in Western Nigeria, bordered to the east by Kogi State, to the north by Niger State, and to the south by Ekiti, Osun, and Oyo states, while its western border makes up part of the international border with Benin. Its ca ...

, Police Machine of

Akwa Ibom Akwa Ibom is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It borders Cross River State to the east, Rivers State and Abia State to the west and north-west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The state takes its name from the Qua ...

, Saadatu Amazons of

, Gift of Life, Invincible Angels of

Gboko Gboko is a Local Government Area in Benue state, North-central Nigeria. It is headquartered in the town of Gboko. Gboko LGA was created on11 May 1970 with a landmass of 2,264 sq km. Wielding a population of 358,936 according to 2006 census, it ...

, Dream Stars of

Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...

and Faith Hill Queens. In November 2018, it was confirmed that Dream Stars and Invincible Angels will be promoted to the elite division.

Top scorers

References

{{reflist Nigeria Women Premier League seasons N Wom N Wom