The Pacesetter Queens, a team owned by the Oyo State Government, have officially secured a spot in the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) for the 2025/26 season, marking their debut appearance in the country’s top-tier women’s football competition.
The development follows the team’s acquisition of Benue Queens’ league slot, as confirmed by the Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Alhaja Wasilat Adefemi Adegoke.
With this move, Pacesetter Queens will now serve as the official women’s team of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side, Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC).
The promotion further strengthens the South-West’s dominance in women’s football, bringing the region’s total representation in the NWFL to seven teams: Robo Queens and Dannaz Ladies (Lagos), Remo Stars Ladies and Castmog Ladies (Ogun), Sunshine Queens (Ondo), Osun Babes (Osun), and now Pacesetter Queens (Oyo).
The kickoff date and fixtures for the upcoming season will be officially unveiled during the league’s Annual General Assembly (AGA) in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, October 29, 2025.
The inclusion of Pacesetter Queens is seen as a major boost for women’s football development in Oyo State and across the South-West region, with expectations high for a competitive and entertaining 2025/26 NWFL season.
