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 quater-finals stage, Sports Chronicle Magazine 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 poses a great threat to the Nigerian women, considering their physicality and competitiveness.

“The Cameroon gave 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 quarterfinals is itself evidence of how competitive the women’s game in Africa has become,” Thomas remarked conclusively.

Team Nigeria produced another electrifying display at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, breaking both the Nigerian U20 record and the African U20 record in the mixed 4x100m relay as the country’s young stars continued their impressive march toward the medals.

The quartet of Tejiri Godwin, Rosemary Nwankwo, Perfect Faye and Miracle Ezechukwu delivered one of the standout performances of the championships, clocking 41.91 seconds to finish second in their qualifying heat and book a place in the final.

Read Also: World U20 Championships: Jessica Oji Delivers Historic Shot Put Gold for Nigeria in Eugene

It was not just qualification—it was history.

Their time erased the previous Nigerian U20 record and became the fastest time ever recorded by an African U20 team in the mixed 4x100m relay, sending a strong message to the rest of the field ahead of the medal race.

Nigeria looked out of contention for victory heading into the final exchange, but Miracle Ezechukwu produced a breathtaking anchor leg to transform the race.

The teenage sprinter powered past Germany with remarkable ease before closing rapidly on the United States in the closing metres. Her blistering 10.05-second anchor split turned what appeared to be an ordinary qualification into one of the most memorable performances of the championships.

With the record-breaking run, Team Nigeria now heads into the final brimming with confidence and firmly established among the leading contenders for a place on the podium.

The impressive relay display was complemented by more success on the track.

In the women’s 400 metres, Jecinta Lawrence showed tremendous determination to qualify for the semifinals after clocking 53.97 seconds. She finished in a dead heat for third place with Eni Kuske, with both athletes officially credited with the same time.

Compatriot Faith Ezechukwu also advanced after another composed race, finishing third in her heat in 54.38 seconds to secure automatic qualification for the next round.

Nigeria’s excellent day continued in the field as Precious Opinion booked his place in the men’s triple jump final with a superb personal best of 16.02 metres.

The leap exceeded the automatic qualification standard of 16.00m, making him one of only five athletes to achieve the mark and strengthening Nigeria’s medal prospects in the event.

The latest performances build on the momentum already generated by Jessica Oji, who earlier qualified for the women’s shot put final after topping the qualification round with a commanding throw of 17.56 metres.

With finalists now confirmed in the relay, women’s shot put and men’s triple jump, alongside two semifinalists in the women’s 400m, Team Nigeria continues to emerge as one of the standout nations at the championships.

As the competition enters its decisive stages, the country’s young athletes are not just advancing—they are breaking records, rewriting history and giving Nigerian fans every reason to believe that medals are within reach in Eugene.