Former chief coach of the Nigeria senior women’s national team, Kadiri Ikhana, has warned that the Super Falcons risk exiting the ongoing WAFCON 2026 in Morocco when they confront the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in the quarter-finals if they fail to raise their game, Completesports.com reports exclusively.
The Super Falcons and the Indomitable Lionesses clash in the Quarter-finals on Sunday, 9 August 2026 at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca.
Ikhana, who led the team to a fourth-place finish at the 2012 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, said the 10-time African champions have yet to hit their usual high standards at the tournament and warned that they could be eliminated if they do not improve on their performances.
Super Falcons Must Raise Their Game Against Cameroon
“Super Falcons have not impressed so far in the championship, and I don’t see them beating Cameroon if they fail to raise their game when they clash in the quarter-finals on Sunday, August 9.
Also Read: WAFCON 2026: Super Falcons Bag $60,000 Goal Bonus For Egypt Win
“I just hope the Super Falcons find their rhythm again, reach the semi-finals and pick a World Cup ticket,” Ikhana, who led Enyimba International of Aba to win the CAF Champions League in 2003, stated.
Super Falcons Have Struggled In Group Stage
“Surprisingly, Super Falcons have struggled in all three group matches, even losing to debutants Malawi to finish behind the group winners.
“I don’t really know why our girls have not been at their best so far. They should realise that a World Cup ticket is at stake, and we cannot afford to miss the chance of qualifying for the World Cup.”
Ikhana advised coach Justin Madugu, who was one of his assistants with the Falcons in 2012, to prepare his team for a physical and tactical battle against Cameroon.
He recalled that Cameroon defeated Nigeria in the third-place match at the 2012 WAFCON, adding that, with a World Cup ticket at stake, Nigeria cannot afford to miss out on qualification after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the last World Cup.
Nigeria Face Unbeaten Cameroon
He said the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon have been impressive in the group stage and have yet to concede a goal at the tournament.
Also Read: WAFCON 2026: Super Falcons Need To Step Up Their Performance —Udeze Warns
Cameroon topped their group with seven points, winning two matches and drawing one. Ikhana believes they will be determined to defeat Nigeria, who stopped them from qualifying for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup with a victory in the quarter-finals of the 2022 WAFCON.
Super Falcons Can Still Reach The Semi-finals — Ikhana
Ikhana added: “Based on their group-stage matches, they will start as favourites to win on Sunday, but Super Falcons are usually at their best when written off.
“I trust our girls to go all out for victory by not allowing the Lionesses to play their usual high-tempo game. It will be a very tough game, but Super Falcons can squeeze through if they come with their A-game,” Ikhana concluded.
By Richard Jideaka (Abuja)
2 Comments
Justine Madugu: Super Falcons to Fashion a Framework that Addresses Worrisome Defensive Backline
Highly unpopular, highly criticized, highly derided Super Falcons head coach Justin Madugu is concerned about worrying signals of his defensive backline, a backline that embarrassingly conceded 3 goals against Wafcon debutants, carelessly earned a red card that put Nigeria on the back foot in the second match before giving away a needless penalty and then concede 2 goals against the runt of the litter in the final group match.
As the the Super Falcons prepare for the boom or burst crunch quarter-final encounter against perennial foes Cameroon, the need to address niggling defensive foibles has taken on renewed and real urgency.
Despite qualifying for the quarter finals by the skin of their teeth, Nigeria leaked five goals along the way, making a case for their defensive record indefensible.
Beleaguered Coach Madugu acknowledged as much.
“We have been a team that has been very solid defensively, but of recent we are conceding very unnecessary goals, which is something that is a bit worrisome,” Madugu said.
“The manner in which we are conceding those goals calls for serious concern. It is something we must address, and we need to ensure the players remain focused throughout the entire game.”
That said, the team’s defence also showed resilience in how it adjusted to keep Zambia from scoring a single goal and how players like Nnadozie, Ohale, Alozie, Ucheibe and Oladipo improved game-by-game with some like Ucheibe showing admirable versatility and resilience.
But more needs to be done, if rampaging Cameroon strikers are to be curtailed.
“We know what is at stake (against Cameroon); we will be ready for the challenge,” Madugu mentioned motivationally and mindfully.
Nigeria will face Cameroon at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat on Sunday, with a place in the semi-finals and an automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil on the ballot.
The battle will be intense, the victory will be absolute.
No team is a threat to SF if the coach play the right players, and let those like Ijamilusi who are suppose to be on the bench to understudy sit down quietly to observe affairs. Kanu must start alongside Esther. Omewa and Gift Monday can come in as impact strikers.
For the wings he must not bench effective players like Rinsola because the coach is usually funny and full of all talks even when wrong. The players must also be smart to know that officiating can be crazy so they must use their IQ to process things at all times. Keeping high lines must also come with alertness to avoid Malawi counter attack errors.
Another point to Mr Madugu. Cameroon players like rough play at set pieces, so we must keep the ball and dominate possession in other to reduce their chances of winning fouls or creating set pieces that seems to be their goto way of scoring.
Final advice I do not have anything against Agbaballer because she took a couple of her opportunities to help us get some vital goals, but she is not Messi’s class neither is she the best option in today’s football judging by how she misses begging chances. She is only playing to prove a point that doesn’t concern anyone and that is detrimental to the team. Her personal goal is not our aim, the girl can be an impact player but not a starter.
A coach must be bold to know how to use his players. SF is a star studded team that any player can do better than another. So scoring a goal gives no room to be missing sitters and we should be quiet even though oppositions are coming at us. World Cup is at stake we must come out firing on all fronts and the starting eleven will determine a lot plus the subs.