Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu believes the expansion of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to 16 teams represents one of the most important developments in the history of women’s football on the continent.
While speaking in an exclusive interview with CAF, the coach said the enlarged tournament will create more opportunities for countries to develop their women’s programmes while raising the overall standard of African football.
The decision is about much more than simply increasing the number of participating nations.
“It is a very positive development,” he said.
According to the veteran tactician, giving more countries access to Africa’s biggest women’s football competition will expose them to higher levels of competition and encourage long-term investment in the game.
“Expanding WAFCON to 16 teams allows more countries to experience the competition and showcase the progress they have made in developing women’s football,” Madugu explained.
He believes the new format will help emerging football nations measure themselves against Africa’s elite while identifying areas that require 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,” he added.
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Madugu also pointed to the direct benefits for players, arguing that a larger tournament creates a bigger stage for female footballers to display their talent to clubs, scouts and the wider football world.
“Beyond the teams, it creates a bigger platform for players to showcase their abilities, improve their careers, and attract more opportunities,” he said.
The Super Falcons coach is equally convinced that increased participation will encourage governments, football federations and private organisations to invest more heavily in women’s football.
He believes greater visibility will make it easier for stakeholders to appreciate the progress being made across Africa and recognise the need for sustained support.
“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 said.
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Nigeria remains the most successful nation in WAFCON history, but Madugu insists the tournament’s expansion is ultimately a victory for the entire continent.
