For the first time in three successive seasons, the NWFL Premiership League will not record a photo finish as all the teams for the Super Six have emerged before the final games in the regular season, which ends on Wednesday.
All the top six teams that qualified for the NWFL Super Six from each of the two groups, are confirmed going into the final group matches regardless of the results.
The teams confirmed for the Super Six are: Edo Queens, Nasarawa Amazons and Naija Ratels in Group A, while Group B has Bayelsa Queens, Rivers Angels and Delta Queens.
The only changes that may be witnessed will be on the final placements of the clubs going into the Super Six, none of the clubs will drop from the Super Six zone.
The swap in position on top of the table may be witnessed only in Group A, if Nasarawa Amazons defeat Naija Ratels on Wednesday in their last game that will be played at the Snake Farm Pitch, along Keffi – Abuja Express Road due to the on going renovation work going on at the Lafia Township Stadium.
A win for Nasarawa Amazons will take the Christopher Danjuma-tutored team to 27 points on the table to move tops and overtake perenial league leaders, Edo Queens, presently leading with 26 points with a final game in hand against Osun Babes. And this can only happen, if the Betsy Obaseki Girls lost to Osun Babes of Osogbo. A draw would still see the Edo Girls top the table at 27 points with superior goals difference.
Meanwhile, In group B, there won’t be any noticeable changes despite Rivers Angels playing at home against Bayelsa Queens in Wednesday’s last game. A win for the second placed Angels will only give them 23 points, good enough to reconfirm their Super Six qualification and not to displace leaders, Bayelsa Queens on 24 points with a game in hand. The same situation of swap in final placements in Group B, can only be possible with an away win by Delta Queens against Royal Queens in Warri. If this happens, Delta Queens will move to second position, if Rivers Angels lose their home game against Bayelsa Queens.
As it is, the confirmed NWFL Premiership Super Six teams are: Edo Queens of Benin, Nasarawa Amazons and New comers Naija Ratels of Abuja in Group A. While in Group B, we have Bayelsa Queens of Yenagoa, Rivers Angels and Delta Queens.
In the two groups, where changes in the final placement may happen are in the bottom.
In Group A, if Osun Babes beat Edo Queens, they will move to 17 points moving clearly into the safety zone in fourth position, to continue playing the Premiership league next season, substituting Confluence Queens that finished their regular season’s games and rooted to the fourth spot with 16 points.
In Group B, even a wide goal margin win by Royal Queens of Warri against Delta Queens, won’t change the fortune of the Warri Girls.
Still in Group B, a win for Abia Angels against Sunshine Queens will help the Ann Agumanu led Girls to leave the relegation zone into the safety zone.
The battle at the bottom of Group B, will incidentally be very interesting, as the last three teams will be extra serious not to go down on relegation. Ironically, instead of battling to get the Super Six tickets as customary with the last games of the regular season, Sunshine Queens, Abia Angels and Royal Queens will play the games of their lives to avoid the murky waters.
Naija Ratels however set a record as the first team in five seasons to book a place in the NWFL Super Six, in their first season the Premiership. They also have the chance to play for the NWFL Premiership title in the Super Six.
