There’s a lot to look forward to as the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) commences this weekend, from Sunday, July 27, when Algeria face Senegal in the opening match in Rabat, Morocco. Billed to run till August 16, this year’s WAFCON is set to be the biggest yet, featuring 16 countries for the first time.

Besides the thrill and increased competitiveness expected due to the expansion, there’s also bound to be more chum in the water, as the tournament will double as the qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, with all four semi-finalists bound to secure automatic tickets, and two others likely to join the Mundial through the inter-confederation playoff. That said, the buildup to Africa’s premier women’s football competition is as typical as ever: it’s another delayed start to the tournament, which was postponed just 12 days before its original March 17 start date. Again, Morocco is at the continent’s aid in what will be its third consecutive hosting duty, while the competition’s biggest talking point has been who or what can stop Nigeria’s Super Falcons this time around. This is the pedigree that comes from winning 10 of the 13 previous editions of the tournament, the most continental titles by any women’s national team globally. 

Nigeria’s last outing ended in one of the greatest comebacks in women’s football, as they came back from two goals down against Morocco to win their record-extending 10th WAFCON title in front of a partisan crowd at the Olympic Stadium. Ahead of this year’s continental showpiece, it’s par for the course that the reigning African champions were dealt a preparatory blow by the cancellation of their top pre-tournament friendly against Ghana’s Black Queens due to “unforeseen circumstances,” as mentioned by the Nigeria Football Federation. The Super Falcons would need a late Esther Okoronkwo goal to dispatch the Twiga Stars of Tanzania 2-1 in their final and only pre-tournament friendly. 

Striking the right chords 💯#SoarSuperFalcons | #TheQueens | #NGATAN pic.twitter.com/s9AsQBzEmO

— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) July 23, 2026

Ahead of their title defence in Group C against debutants Malawi next Tuesday, Bounce Sports spoke at length to seven Super Falcons enthusiasts about their pressing concerns, expectations and hopes for the defending champions. 

• Amos Avielele, Local Scout and Sports Buff

Just like the last tournament, I really like our chances in this edition. The fact that some of our players [unavoidably] resumed training late is a bit worrying, but I still think we have what it takes to win it again.

Our individual quality is, woman for woman, the best on the continent, and that was what saw us through the last tournament. Once again, we will probably look to individual moments to carry us. However, I think the gap is closer now than ever between the other top teams and us in Africa, and part of it is due to NFF’s incompetence. I don’t think this is the best possible squad that could have been selected, and I think Justine Madugu going for what he knows instead of trusting new legs will probably come back to harm us.

I think Madugu could be a whole lot better, but since he’s a winner, there’s little for me to complain about. Ultimately, I’ll give the team a pass in this tournament as long as they secure qualification to the World Cup. This tournament feels like the last WAFCON for players like Asisat Oshoala and Francesca Ordega. Even if they play limited roles, I look forward to seeing them all. 

• Pamela Taiye Ilekhuoba, Freelance Journalist 

I think we can defend the title, even though the preparations for the tournament weren’t at top gear. Our squad looks good enough for the task ahead, but I still think that some veterans in the squad should have given way for some young talents to shine and rise to the occasion.

They have a very good team, with the reigning CAF Player of the Year, Ghizlane Chebbak; Ibtissam Jraïdi, one of the finest No. 9s I’ve ever seen in African women’s football; Fatima Tagnaout; and a host of other good players. The Moroccans are very good on the ball. They have a very solid midfield and very dangerous and pacey attackers. They can upset the Super Falcons if we’re not at our best. Remember, they’re coached by Jorge Vilda, Spain’s former coach. The only weakness I see in this Moroccan team is that the majority of their players are ageing. I think they even have an older team than ours.

•    Elijah Odetokun, Veteran Sports Editor

Justine Madugu has proven himself by winning the WAFCON in 2025. Even if the performances weren’t that thrilling for the level of talent available in the squad, he brought home the trophy, and I believe he could deliver once again with the squad he has assembled, most of whom played at the last edition.

The Super Falcons are a team that delivers with little input, and it has been like that for a while. That probably explains why the NFF is treating the team like a B team and has relaxed on investing more in the squad. Morocco’s threat is not something to worry about that much. The major concern is for the team not to be satisfied with any result that gets them World Cup qualification.

• Joy Moyela, Super Falcons Fan

Yes, we can defend the title. With the quality of players we have, only a few countries will give us a tough time.

But I am not convinced at all about our coaching staff. I watched every single game of the last WAFCON, and I could not recognise my team. But I’m more than convinced in the players’ ability to step up to the task and give their all, no matter what’s happening off the pitch.

As for Morocco and their home advantage, we beat them in the last WAFCON. If we have fair refereeing, they’ve got nothing on the Super Falcons.

• Ibraheem Adeyemi Bello, Writer and Politician

Honestly, I think we’d make the final at the very least. The expansion shouldn’t be a problem. Much hasn’t changed with this team, save for the persistent issues with the federation, but the ladies are sadly used to such disappointments already.

Yes, being managed by such an administration alone can weaken any solid team, but I believe the ladies will just have to play for themselves and defend their title again. I don’t have much reservation with the squad; I think it’s the best possible one, aside from the major absence of our best defender, Ashleigh Plumptre. I hope everyone else will step up.

• Anthonia Buraimo, Student and Sports Storyteller

Realistically, I think we can defend our title, but it’s going to be more difficult to win than it was last year. The expansion to 16 teams means there will be less margin for error, and I am not fully convinced by our coaching setup to ensure this. The squad, on paper, is stacked,, but having a talented squad isn’t the same as having a tactical identity. We’ve always won on individual brilliance under this tactical setup, not a coherent game plan, and that’s a gap that shows up against organised teams.

The NFF doesn’t make it any easier. It’s the same pattern every year: late camp assemblies, cancelled friendlies and other issues that disrupt what a proper pre-tournament run-up should look like. And that’s why you can’t fault the coaching staff entirely when they’re often working with compressed preparation time. It’s hard to develop tactics and cohesion when the structure around the team keeps forcing you to improvise.

That said, Morocco is a threat. They have the home advantage and the opportunity for revenge after last year’s loss. And with this WAFCON also determining the World Cup qualifiers, we can’t count on individual brilliance to make up for weak tactics or the NFF’s poor preparation this time. I want us to defend the title. I just think the plan and the support system both need to catch up to the players.

•  Emmanuel Faith, International Sports Journalist and Co-founder of Fervora, a Sports Media Firm

No, I don’t see the Super Falcons defending their title, sadly. The competition on the continent is getting stiffer, and we have witnessed it over the last two WAFCONs. We didn’t even climb the podium in 2022, and while 2025 was a better outing, we won largely thanks to the individual brilliance of superstars like Rasheedat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo, who played relentlessly.

The coach looks clueless at the moment, and you can tell from how disjointed his squad is. Why did he pick nine attackers for the tournament and leave a solid defender like Nicole Payne at home?

While I am rooting for the ladies to pick up an automatic World Cup ticket by making the semis, if they win, it will be because the continent is yet to catch up. Madugu isn’t the right man for the job, and the NFF’s preparation for this competition has been extremely shambolic. Everyone in that institution should be ashamed of themselves.