2024/25 NWFL Premiership MD2 Preview: Fierce South-South And South-West Derbies On The Horizon

2024/25 NWFL Premiership MD2 Preview: Fierce South-South And South-West Derbies On The Horizon

After an exciting opening round, the 2024/25 Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) Premiership returns with another thrilling matchday on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. The season kicked off with a star-studded opening match between defending champions Edo Queens and Abia Angels, which was broadcast live on NTA Sports and StarTimes.

This match marked the beginning of a season filled with exciting TV coverage, as weekly star games will continue to be aired for fans across the country.

This week, two high-stakes derbies are set to dominate the action: the South-South derby between Ibom Angels and Bayelsa Queens, and the South-West derby between Remo Stars Ladies and Ekiti Queens.

Both matchups promise intense competition as teams aim to build on or recover from their opening results. 

Group A:

Heartland Queens vs Edo Queens Heartland Queens return to the Dan Anyiam Stadium looking to recover from their narrow 1-0 loss to Ekiti Queens last week. In that match, a goal from Odunayo Olaleye handed the Ajao City side a defeat in Ado Ekiti. The result was a surprising one, given Heartland’s impressive Super Six qualification last season, while Ekiti Queens fought off relegation. Meanwhile, Edo Queens started their title defence with a statement 5-0 win over Abia Angels in the season's opening match. Moses Aduku’s side will be looking to maintain their perfect start as they travel to Owerri.

Remo Stars Ladies VS Ekiti Queens

Both teams are off to strong starts this season. Remo Stars Ladies secured an impressive 3-1 win over Confluence Queens in Anyigba, while Ekiti Queens managed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Heartland Queens. This encounter will be their third meeting in the top flight, with both sides winning their home fixtures last season. The South-West derby promises to be a thrilling contest as both teams look to extend their unbeaten runs.

Dannaz Ladies VS Confluence Queens

In another compelling match, Dannaz Ladies face Confluence Queens, both teams coming off disappointing starts. Dannaz lost 1-0 to Nasarawa Amazons, while Confluence Queens suffered a 3-1 defeat to Remo Stars Ladies. This match marks the third meeting between these two sides in top-flight history. A win for either team would be crucial to get their campaigns back on track after tough opening results.

Abia Angels VS Nasarawa Amazons

Abia Angels endured a heavy 5-0 loss to defending champions Edo Queens last week and will be hoping to bounce back against a Nasarawa Amazons side that edged Dannaz Ladies 1-0. The Solid Miners have dominated the head-to-head in recent years, winning four of the last five encounters, including a 1-0 victory away from home last season. Despite their dominance, Nasarawa Amazons have rarely beaten Abia Angels by more than a single goal, making this clash one to watch closely.

Group B:

Naija Ratels VS Rivers Angels Naija Ratels host Rivers Angels at home after securing a valuable away point against Adamawa Queens. Rivers Angels, meanwhile, fought hard to secure a 2-1 victory over Ibom Angels in their opening match. The host side will be keen to end a four-match winless streak against the visitors, who have dominated their recent encounters. Rivers Angels have won all four of the last meetings between these sides, including a 1-0 win in the 2024 President Federation Cup final. Naija Ratels will be aiming to turn the tide in this highly anticipated match.

FC Robo Queens VS Adamawa Queens

FC Robo Queens head into this match as heavy favourites after a dominant 5-1 victory over Benue Queens in their opening match. Adamawa Queens, who secured a 1-1 draw against Naija Ratels, now face the daunting task of facing a high-scoring FC Robo side. The Lagos-based team has historically had the upper hand, with two consecutive wins in their last two meetings, including a 3-0 win in the 2022/23 season. Adamawa Queens will be hoping to improve their record against the Landladies in this encounter.

Delta Queens VS Benue Queens Both Delta Queens and Benue Queens will be looking for redemption after tough starts to the season. Delta Queens lost 1-0 to Bayelsa Queens, while Benue Queens were hammered 5-1 by FC Robo Queens. The two teams will meet for the first time in the top flight at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba. With talented players like former UEFA Women’s Champions League top scorer Emueje Ogbiagbevha leading their attack, Delta Queens will be hoping to put in a dominant performance. For Benue Queens, a strong result here would be vital to bounce back after their heavy defeat.

Ibom Angels VS Bayelsa Queens In another South-South derby, Ibom Angels will host Bayelsa Queens at the Uyo Township Stadium. The Orange Ladies suffered a 2-1 loss to Rivers Angels last week, while Bayelsa Queens scraped a 1-0 win over Delta Queens. The last meeting between these two sides ended in a dominant 4-0 win for Bayelsa Queens during the 2020/21 season, but with new coaches and players in both teams, this match promises to be a tightly contested affair. Ibom Angels’ Edwin Okon will face Tosan Blankson, and with their previous encounters ending in draws, this match is set to be an exciting showdown.

Matchday 2 of the 2024/25 NWFL Premiership promises a weekend full of thrilling encounters. From South-South and South-West derbies to teams looking to bounce back from disappointing starts, fans are in for an action-packed round of fixtures as the league heats up.

Be sure to catch the star games live on NTA Sports and StarTimes as they continue to showcase the best of Nigerian women’s football.