By Our Correspondent

The management of Nigeria Women Football League, NWFL has bowed to intese pressure and readmitted relegated clubs back to the elite league, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

On Tuesday, the NWLF announced that five clubs – Sunshine Queens of Akure, Dream Stars of Lagos, Adamawa Queens of Yola, Ibom Angels of Uyo and Heartland Queens FC of Owerri were announced to have been relegated from the elite league following their inability to meet up with registration and player licensing procedures.  

However, on Thursday, the NWFL via a statement announced that the five clubs have been given a lifeline to reclaim their status in the league

“The Chairperson of the NWFL, Aisha Falode, 24 hours after announcing the relegation of five NWFL Premiership clubs for falling short of meeting the deadline for the 2020/2021 Club Licencing/ Registration procedures, has announced the reconsideration of the NWFL board after rising from its emergency meeting in Abuja, to give the five relegated clubs; Sunshine Queens, Adamawa Queens, Ibom Angels, Heartland Queens and Dream Stars,  up until December 1, 2020 to complete their registration,” the release said Thursday

Falode, noted that: “The erring clubs were given a soft landing and a second chance to play in the elite class of the league, but with a stiff penalty to not only complete their registration and licencing between November 27 to December 1, 2020, but to also pay a fine of N300,000 as a deterrent.”

The NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Mrs Faith Ben-Anuge in a signed statement addressed to the five clubs reads: ” Following the resolution of the NWFL board at its Emergency Meeting held on 26th November, 2020 on issues arising from club licencing and eligibility of participation in the upcoming NWFL 2020/2021 Premiership season, we write to inform you that your club has been reconsidered to complete licensing after several appeals with a fine of N300,000, to be paid with receipt forwarded to the Secretariat before bringing your document for scrutiny and clearance.

“Clubs concerned are hereby given three days between Friday 27th November 2020 and Tuesday 1st December, 2020 and on or before 12 noon to complete all modalities for licensing or else face relegation. Please ensure compliance.”

However, findings by our correspondent indicate that the NWFL caved in to series of pressure mounted by on it by the relegated clubs especially ones owned by state government.