Nigerian referee Yemisi Eunice Akintoye has expressed her gratitude to God, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), fellow officials and the wider Nigerian football community following her successful participation at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

Sports247 gathered that Akintoye was among the Nigerian match officials who represented the country at the continental tournament, with the experienced referee entrusted with officiating the semi-final clash between Algeria and Malawi.

READ ALSO: CAF Appoints Nigeria’s Yemisi Akintoye as Referee for 2026 WAFCON in Morocco

The encounter produced a historic result as Malawi secured an impressive 3-1 victory over Algeria to book their place in the final for the first time in the nation’s history. Although Malawi eventually missed out on the championship, their remarkable run represented a significant milestone for women’s football in the country.

Akintoye’s participation in such a crucial fixture further underlined the growing recognition of Nigerian refereeing on the continental stage and provided another opportunity for her to demonstrate her professionalism and officiating expertise.

Reflecting on her experience in Morocco, Akintoye described the tournament as a great opportunity and a valuable learning experience.

“I thank God Almighty for this great opportunity. It was a great experience and a very good tournament,” she said.

She also extended her sincere appreciation to CAF and the tournament’s instructors for their preparation, guidance, belief and support throughout the competition.

Akintoye acknowledged the contributions of the Nigeria Football Federation and Nigeria Football Referees Association, thanking both bodies for their “massive support” during her continental assignment.

Her appreciation also extended to the Lagos State Referees Council and Ikorodu Football Referees Society, which have played important roles in her development as a match official.

The Nigerian referee reserved special recognition for her fellow Nigerians, expressing gratitude for the encouragement and support she received throughout the tournament.

“Lastly, my fellow Nigerians, you all are the best. I can never take your support for granted. I really do appreciate you all,” she added.

Akintoye’s WAFCON assignment represents another notable achievement for Nigerian refereeing, while her journey from the Lagos State refereeing structure to the continental stage continues to serve as an inspiration to aspiring match officials across the country.

The post Yemisi Akintoye Reflects on Successful WAFCON 2026 Tournament in Morocco appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.

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.

The post WAFCON 2026: This Tournament Is Exciting, Tougher And Unpredictable – Ayodele Thomas  appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu has challenged Nigeria’s players to use the disappointment of missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup as fuel to ensure the country returns stronger in the next qualification campaign.

READ ALSO: ‘Missing The World Cup Still Hurts’ — Alloy Agu Backs Nigeria To Bounce Back

The former international believes spending the summer watching fellow professionals compete on football’s biggest stage should serve as a painful reminder of what the Super Eagles missed after failing to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup.

Nigeria’s absence from the expanded tournament has continued to dominate discussions among former players and football stakeholders, with many calling for lessons to be learned ahead of the road to the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

“Watching the World Cup should hurt the players because they know they belong on that stage. That disappointment should motivate them to work even harder,” Shorunmu said.

The former FC Zürich goalkeeper urged the current generation of Super Eagles stars to respond positively by maintaining high standards at club level and carrying that form into the national team whenever they are called upon.

According to Shorunmu, consistency and commitment will be vital if Nigeria is to avoid another disappointing qualification campaign.

The post ‘Watching The World Cup Should Hurt’ — Ike Shorunmu Challenges Super Eagles To Bounce Back Stronger appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.