The Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) has handed two-match suspensions to a player from each side involved in a post-match altercation following the Premiership fixture between Ekiti Queens and Pacesetter Queens in Ado Ekiti.
The confrontation broke out at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium immediately after the final whistle on Matchday 15, moments after Ekiti Queens confirmed a 2-0 victory. What began as a physical exchange between players quickly escalated, disrupting proceedings at the venue.
Following a review of the referee’s report, the match commissioner’s report, and video footage of the incident, the NWFL determined that Teslimot Balogun of Pacesetter Queens and Busari Suliyat of Ekiti Queens were both culpable of violent and unsporting conduct. The league ruled that their actions brought the game into disrepute.
Both players will serve their suspensions beginning from Matchday 16, sidelining them for two consecutive fixtures. The disciplinary ruling was announced by the NWFL on April 16, 2026, ahead of the league’s next round of matches.
NWFL Chief Operating Officer Modupe Shabi reinforced the league’s position on player conduct in an official statement, warning that further incidents would attract harsher consequences. “Any act of violence has no place in our league and will be met with firm disciplinary action to protect the integrity of the game and the safety of all participants,” Shabi said.
Shabi further cautioned that future misconduct could result in indefinite bans for players or officials found guilty, signalling that the governing body is prepared to escalate its response if post-match incidents persist.
The disciplinary action reflects a broader effort by the NWFL to enforce standards of conduct across the Premiership. The women’s top flight has seen growing attention in recent seasons, particularly following Bayelsa Queens’ clinching of their sixth NWFL Premiership title, which underlined the competitive nature of the division.
With the suspensions taking effect from Matchday 16, both Ekiti Queens and Pacesetter Queens will need to manage their squads accordingly. Ekiti Queens, coming off a winning result, will be looking to maintain momentum in the standings, while Pacesetter Queens face the added challenge of fielding without one of their players during the ban period.
The NWFL’s swift response to the incident, citing multiple sources of evidence including video footage, demonstrates the league’s intent to uphold disciplinary standards and deter similar occurrences for the remainder of the 2026 season.
