<p>The selection of parental genotypes and an understanding of mechanisms controlling the genetic combination of those genotypes are essential for crop improvement. This study aimed to estimate the combining ability of cowpea parental genotypes, determine the magnitude of heterosis in F₁ progenies, and identify the best combiners for grain yield and morphological traits. Results showed significant effects of both general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA), indicating additive and non-additive gene action. The combination of TV13953 and IT96D-602 was most effective for enhancing grain yield, seed weight, pod, and seed number. Glenda x TVU13953 showed positive SCA effects on all traits except days to 50% flowering. Narrow-sense heritability ranged from 0.12 (pod length) to 0.58 (plant height), suggesting that selection can effectively improve characteristics with high heritability, like plant height, but not those with low heritability, such as pod length. High heterosis levels in F₁ progenies implied a potential for hybrid breeding, which should be considered in future breeding efforts. Therefore, six progenies (TVU13953 x Glenda, ITOOK-1060 × TVU13953, 98&#xa0;K-5301 × Glenda, ITOOK-1060 × TVU13953, IT96D-602 × Glenda, and IT96D-602 × TVU13953) can already be tested in various environments to determine their value as commercial hybrids. Therefore, although cowpea is a self-pollinated crop that is typically improved through pedigree breeding, there is a possibility for hybrid breeding as well.</p>