The incident occurred despite a clear warning issued just 24 hours earlier by the Ekiti State Government. Technical Adviser on Sports Development, Olusola Osetoba, had held a news conference urging supporters to maintain decorum, specifically warning that any act of hooliganism could lead to the team being banished from their home ground again.
A Dark Day For Women's Football
Eyewitness accounts and early reports indicate that the atmosphere turned hostile shortly after the final whistle. Pacesetter Queens, a side from Ibadan, were allegedly targeted by hoodlums and aggressive fans within the stadium vicinity. The assault has left several players and members of the technical crew visibly shaken, with some reportedly sustaining minor injuries during the chaos.
This development is particularly heartbreaking given that Ekiti Queens had only just been allowed to return to their home stadium in Ado Ekiti on March 23, 2026. The club had previously served a lengthy ban at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta after a similar incident involving the assault of match officials in December 2025.
The NWFL had previously slammed Ekiti Queens with a 2.5 million Naira fine and a three game home ban in late 2025 for failing to provide adequate security and failing to control their supporters. The league management had emphasized then that the safety of everyone involved in a match is paramount.
With these fresh reports of violence against Pacesetter Queens, the football community is asking: when will the safety of athletes be taken seriously? The repeat nature of these incidents in the same venue raises serious questions about the security protocols put in place by the host club.
What Comes Next?
The Nigeria Women Football League board is expected to launch a full scale investigation into the incident. Given the team’s prior disciplinary record, heavy sanctions are likely, including the possibility of another lengthy ban from the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium and further financial penalties.
Supporters of the game across the country have taken to social media to express their disappointment, with many calling for life bans for identified perpetrators to serve as a deterrent.
As we await the official statement from the NWFL, the focus remains on the well being of the Pacesetter Queens players and officials who were affected by these terrible scenes.