NWFL Introduces Mandatory Digital Portal for 2025/26 Premiership Season

The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) has unveiled a mandatory digital portal for player registration and club licensing ahead of the 2025/26 Premiership season.

The initiative, announced on Friday, November 14, by the league’s Media Director, Samuel Ahmadu, marks a major step in modernising administrative processes and strengthening regulatory compliance across the competition.

Chief Operating Officer Modupe Shabi described the platform as a landmark in the NWFL’s governance standards. ‘This platform is designed to eliminate manual delays, minimise documentation errors, and provide real-time oversight of all registration activities. It is an important step toward making the NWFL more efficient and globally competitive,’ she said.

Shabi emphasised that the portal’s verification features will help curb persistent issues such as age falsification, dual registration, and irregular player movement.

‘The system gives the league the ability to authenticate submitted documents instantly. It strengthens integrity, ensures accountability, and aligns us with international best practices,’ she added.

The digital migration received strong backing from club representatives during the recent Congress in Port Harcourt, where stakeholders endorsed the move as vital to improving organisational efficiency and reinforcing league structures.

Under the updated NWFL Registration and Club Licensing Regulations, clubs must complete player registration exclusively through the portal between November 14 and 21, 2025.

Required documentation includes national identification, passport photographs, verified age records, academic credentials, medical fitness reports, and digitally signed player contracts.

Licensing submissions will also demand coaching licences, stadium certification, audited financial statements, ownership documents, and proof of youth development structures.

According to the NWFL secretariat, the portal is not only a compliance tool but also a strategic instrument to enhance the marketability of the league.

By improving transparency, data integrity, and administrative professionalism, the system is expected to attract sponsors, commercial partners, and international collaborations, positioning the NWFL for greater global recognition.