Ikhana Warns Falcons Must Raise Game Vs Cameroon

Former Super Falcons chief coach Kadiri Ikhana has warned that Nigeria risk crashing out of WAFCON 2026 when they face Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses in Sunday’s quarterfinal at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, unless the team significantly raises its level.

“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 quarterfinals on Sunday, August 9,” Ikhana said. “I just hope the Super Falcons find their rhythm again, reach the semifinals and pick a World Cup ticket.”

His concern is rooted in how uneven Nigeria’s group stage actually was. The Super Falcons lost their opener to tournament debutants Malawi, then needed wins over Zambia and Egypt just to scrape into the quarterfinals as runners up on a tiebreaker, having finished level on points with both Malawi and Zambia at the top of Group C.

“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 added, referencing the fact that this year’s WAFCON doubles as qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Fans following the build-up to the quarterfinal can check Bet9ja’s current promo code ahead of Sunday’s game.

Ikhana speaks with some authority on this fixture. He led Nigeria to a fourth place finish at the 2012 WAFCON in Equatorial Guinea, with current coach Justin Madugu serving as one of his assistants at that tournament, and he separately guided Enyimba International to the 2003 CAF Champions League title, one of the biggest achievements by a Nigerian club on the continent.

Cameroon arrive as one of the form teams of the tournament. The Indomitable Lionesses finished Group D unbeaten with two wins and a draw, conceding just two goals across all three matches, and forward Marie Ngah Manga has scored in each of her side’s first two group games. New Bet9ja users following WAFCON’s knockout stage can check how to get the Bet9ja promotion code before the quarterfinals kick off.

Ikhana urged Madugu to prepare his side for a physical and tactical battle, pointing back to the 2012 tournament when Cameroon beat Nigeria in the third-place match. With a World Cup ticket on the line and the Super Eagles having already missed out on the men’s tournament, he stressed that Nigeria simply cannot afford another absence.

There’s an added defensive concern too. Nigeria conceded five goals across their three group matches, the most among all eight quarterfinalists and the most Nigeria have ever allowed at the group stage of a WAFCON, a statistic head coach Madugu has himself flagged as worrying heading into a tie against a Cameroon side that has been far tighter at the back. Punters tracking the quarterfinal can check Bet9ja’s YOHAIG code as Sunday’s game approaches.

Despite the concerns, Ikhana isn’t writing Nigeria off. “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,” he said. “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.”