By Akeem Busari
Before the start of the 2026 WAFCON, some critics had argued that the expansion of the championship to 16 teams, would lower the technical standard of the tournament and the characteristic excitements.
And ahead of the quarterfinals stage, this medium sought the views of a renowned sportspreneur and an investor in women and youth football development, Ayodele Thomas, on the ongoing championship.
He shared his views on the performances of the Super Falcons, so far, in the championship. He began by stating that the performances of the reigning WAFCON champions, the Super Falcons, have been encouraging.
“I would describe the Super Falcon’s performance so far, as encouraging, but inconsistent. The opening defeat was disappointing, particularly for the defending champions. It exposed some defensive weaknesses. However, the team showed very good character in the subsequent games and the 6-2 victory over Egypt, was a significant statement of their attacking quality.”
Concerning the Super Falcons’ quater-finals clash against arch-rivals, he acknowledged that the Lionesses of Cameroon pose a great threat to the Nigerian women, considering their physicality and competitiveness.
“The Cameroon game is a very serious test for Nigeria and one of the biggest rivalries in African women’s football. Historically, these matches have rarely been straightforward.
“On paper, Nigeria should have the quality and experience to win, particularly, because of the depth of the squad and the attacking options available. But Cameroon will provide a completely different challenge from Egypt. They are physically strong, competitive and capable of making the game difficult for Nigeria.
“For me, the key to the match will be Nigeria’s defensive discipline and ability to control the midfield. We cannot afford to concede cheap goals and then rely on our attacking players to rescue the game. However, I would expect Nigeria to have the advantage,” he quipped.
Thomas, who is the President of TopPro Sports Management Company, went ahead to describe the standard of tournament as high and competitive.
“I think the overall standard of the 2026 WAFCON has been noticeably higher and more competitive than in previous editions,” he noted.
“The expansion to 16 teams, has provided more countries with the opportunity to compete at the highest continental level, and we are seeing less of the traditional gap between the established powers and the emerging teams. The results and performances have shown that African women’s football is becoming increasingly competitive.
“Overall, I would say the tournament is competitive, entertaining and increasingly difficult to predict. Which is exactly what you want from a major continental championship.
“The fact that Nigeria, despite being the defending champions and the most successful nation in WAFCON history, had to fight hard to reach the quarter-finals is itself evidence of how competitive the women’s game in Africa has become,” Thomas remarked.
