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.

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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.

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Former Super Eagles hero Sunday Mba has urged the national team selectors to use the upcoming Unity Cup as a platform to showcase talent from the domestic league, while warning against favouritism in player selection.

With the competition seen as an opportunity to test new players, Mba believes it is the perfect moment to give home-based stars a chance to prove themselves on the international stage.

“This is their opportunity,” he said, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity.

However, the former international raised concerns about selection patterns, cautioning against building a squad dominated by players from a single club — an issue he says affected past teams, including the CHAN squad.

“We must avoid that mistake,” he stressed.

According to Mba, talent is spread across multiple clubs in the Nigerian league, and a balanced selection process is essential to ensure fairness and competitiveness.

“There are good players everywhere,” he implied.

For him, the Unity Cup should not just be about participation, but about discovering and nurturing players who can contribute to the long-term future of the Super Eagles.

“This is about development,” he noted.

Mba also highlighted the need for transparency and merit in selection, arguing that giving opportunities to deserving players will boost morale and strengthen the domestic league.

“It encourages everyone,” he added.

His comments reflect a broader call for greater integration of local talents into the national team — an issue that has been widely debated in Nigerian football.

As the Unity Cup approaches, attention will be on how the squad is selected and whether new faces will be given meaningful opportunities.

For Mba, the message is clear.

Talent exists.

It just needs a chance.

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