The opening week of the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) is always a thrilling time for fans and teams alike. Over the past seven seasons, Gameweek 1 (GW1) has delivered fascinating trends and results. This season's opening matches were no exception, adding new milestones to an already rich history.
The standout GW1 fixture of this season was FC Robo Queens’ emphatic 5-1 victory over newly promoted Benue Queens. It was not only the highest-scoring GW1 fixture since 2018/19, but also showcased the ruthlessness of FC Robo Queens. Similarly, Edo Queens delivered the biggest win margin of the GW1 in the same timeframe with their 5-0 demolition of Abia Angels.
As shown above and soon to be buttressed below, the analysis of GW1 fixtures over the past seven seasons reveals clear trends. Home advantage, consistency from top teams, and the struggles of newly promoted sides stand out. This season's record-breaking 23 goals have added excitement to the league's history, setting the stage for an action-packed 2024/25 season.
As the league progresses, fans can expect more thrilling moments and surprises, and we'll be there inspecting every bit of the data. Below is a detailed breakdown of the findings from analyzing GW1 performances over the past seven seasons.
Lowscoring Affairs With Notable Exceptions.
Historically, GW1 fixtures in the NWFL have been lowscoring, with tight defenses and cautious play often defining the early exchanges. However, this trend has had a few outliers. The 2024/25 season bucked the norm by recording 23 goals, making it the highest scoring GW1 in seven seasons.
Bayelsa Queens: Masters of Consistency.
One of the most consistent teams in GW1 history is Bayelsa Queens. Since the 2018/19 season, Bayelsa Queens have not lost a single opening fixture. Their ability to start strong has been key to their dominance in the league. This season, they edged Delta Queens 1-0, proving once again why they are such a difficult side to overlook.
Below is a summary of how the 16 teams currently in the league have fared in GW1 matches over the past seven seasons:
Goalscoring.
Edo Queens boast the best record with 16 goals scored and a +13 goal difference, reflecting their dominance in recent seasons. Bayelsa Queens follow closely with 14 goals and a +12 goal difference, further proving their consistency in GW1.
Dannaz Ladies and Benue Queens have struggled offensively, with Dannaz Ladies failing to score in GW1 and Benue Queens netting only once. This is logical when you consider that they have only spent a few seasons in the top-flight.
The newly promoted Ibom Angels have the poorest defensive record, conceding seven goals in GW1 matches. Abia Angels recent humiliation has seen them grow remarkably in the negative half of the goals chart as well. Rivers Angels have let in as many GW1 goals as they have scored (5) in the past seven seasons.
Home Advantage Remains Strong.
Over the past seven seasons, the home teams have dominated GW1 matches. Out of 51 fixtures, 27 victories have gone to the home sides, while the traveling teams have only managed 9 wins. The remaining 15 matches ended in draws. These stats underline the importance of home advantage, especially during the season’s opening week.
The Struggles of Newly Promoted Teams.
Newly promoted sides have often found it difficult to win on their debut. The last team to achieve this feat was Naija Ratels, who defeated Osun Babes in 2022. Last season, all four promoted sides split the points in GW1 but this season, the promoted sides have all paid the ultimate gameweek price.
Benue Queens joined the list of teams who suffered a tough start, losing 5-1 to FC Robo Queens while Ibom Angels took a dagger to the heart when they conceded a matchwinner in stoppage time playing away to Rivers Angels.
As we round up this succinct analysis, we have some big data projects for 2025, especially as it concerns The NWFL and women's football in general, and we are looking for collaborators. Would you be interested in connecting with our data team? Kindly let us know in the comments.
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