National Teams
WAFCON Expansion to 16 Teams Will Accelerate Women’s Football Growth in Africa – Madugu
Nigeria head coach Justine Madugu has welcomed the expansion of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) to 16 teams, describing it as a landmark decision that will accelerate the growth of women’s football across the continent.
The Confederation of African Football’s decision to increase the number of participating nations, Madugu said, will provide more countries with the opportunity to compete at the highest level, expose emerging talents and stimulate greater investment in the women’s game.
Speaking in an interview with CAFOnline.com, the Nigeria coach said the expanded tournament would have far-reaching benefits for players, national teams and football development across Africa.
“For me, it is a very positive development because expanding WAFCON to 16 teams allows more countries to experience the competition and showcase the progress they have made in developing women’s football.”
According to the 62-year-old tactician, increasing the number of participating teams will also enable more nations to assess their competitiveness against Africa’s traditional powerhouses while identifying areas requiring improvement.
“It will also help grow the game across the continent because more nations will have the chance to measure themselves against the best, assess their level of investment, and identify areas where they can improve.”
Madugu believes the expanded competition will create a broader platform for players to display their talents on the continental stage, opening doors to professional opportunities and career advancement.
“Beyond the teams, it creates a bigger platform for players to showcase their abilities, improve their careers, and attract more opportunities.”
The Super Falcons coach also predicted that the expansion would encourage governments, football federations and private investors to commit more resources to the women’s game as the tournament continues to gain prominence.
“The expansion will also encourage more investment in women’s football because people will be able to see the level of work being done across different countries and understand the importance of supporting the growth of the women’s game.”
Madugu, who guided Nigeria to the 2024 WAFCON title, has consistently advocated sustained investment in women’s football, maintaining that increased opportunities for national teams and players are essential to raising the standard of the game across Africa.
The expansion of WAFCON to 16 teams is expected to usher in a new era for women’s football on the continent, providing more nations with the opportunity to compete regularly at elite level while strengthening the overall competitiveness of African women’s football.
