Four teams are embroiled in the NWFL Premiership Relegation battle that will go down at the Mainbowl of University of Benin Sports Complex from the 8th to the 11th of May.
Dreamstar Ladies, Ibom Angels, Abia Angels and Pelican Stars will all slug it out for survival.
Two teams that ends in 11th and 12th position will retain their Premiership status, while the two teams that finishes in 13th and 14th will go down to the NWFL Championship.
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Dreamstar Ladies have been in this route before, having narrowly escaped relegation in 2019 in a play-off game played in Abuja against Invincible Angels.
The ‘Galaticas’ survived via penalties and will be looking forward to retaining their Premiership status again in Benin.
Unfortunately, they will be missing the services of their talismanic midfielder Anuoluwapo Salisu who signed a short term contract with Bayelsa Queens ahead of their Super 6 Campaign and Opeyemi Ajakaiye who is also an important figure in the team won’t be available as she also joined Edo Queens some weeks ago.
The onus will now lie on the likes of Hambefen Ayatsea, Juliet Iroele, Favour Kalu and Tosin Ogundeko.
For Pelican Stars, they were relegated from the Premiership in 2018 and made a quick come back in 2019 after picking one of the two slots in the Championship. They finished second, behind 2019 Championship winners Royal Queens.
Hodo Williams, Ufomba Chinwendu, Ogechi Ukwuoma, Gladys Abasi and others have promised to play with all of their heart to retain the status of one of the most successful women football club in the continent.
Ibom Angels are definitely not familiar with the word ‘relegation play-off’.
The ‘Orange Ladies’ started poorly in 2021, losing a string of games at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.
Their late preparation before the beginning of the season, might have been the reason for their poor form during the league.
For a team that recently played in the final of the AITEO Cup, alot of work surely needs to be done for them to keep their Premiership status.
Abia Angels are a modest side that has always finished in the middle of the log, since they gained promotion to the elite league in 2015.
A team full of potentials and always a difficult side to play against.
Abia Angels will be playing the play-offs without one of their key players Margaret Ademulegun who joined Delta Queens weeks ago, but the likes of Offor Merit, Bukola Adewale, Njimogu Nancy and the Camerounian duo of Bilong Maxi and Bakendj Reine.
NWFL Premiership Relegation Play-offs.
UNIBEN Sports Complex, Benin..
MATCH-DAY ONE (Saturday) 8th Of May.
Abia Angels VS Pelican Stars (2pm)
Dreamstar Ladies VS Ibom Angels (4pm)
MATCH-DAY TWO (Sunday), 9th May
Ibom Angels VS Abia Angels (2pm)
Pelican Stars VS Dreamstar Ladies (4pm)
MATCH-DAY THREE (Tuesday), 11th Of May
Abia Angels VS Dreamstar Ladies (4pm)
Ibom Angels VS Pelican Stars (4pm)