The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed Justine Madugu as head coach of the Super Falcons after Nigeria suffered one of the biggest setbacks in its recent history: failing to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time ever.
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Nigeria Fires Madugu After Historic World Cup Failure
The Super Falcons will miss the Women’s World Cup for the first time in history, prompting the Nigeria Football Federation to dismiss Justine Madugu and his entire coaching staff.
The decision takes immediate effect and also includes the dismissal of Madugu’s entire coaching staff. His departure comes only a year after he guided Nigeria to a record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.
Madugu initially took charge on an interim basis in September 2024 following the departure of American coach Randy Waldrum. However, the team failed to reproduce its continental dominance at this year’s WAFCON. Nigeria missed out on the semifinals before suffering a 2-1 defeat to South Africa in the playoff match.
The decision takes immediate effect and also includes the dismissal of Madugu’s entire coaching staff. His departure comes only a year after he guided Nigeria to a record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.
Madugu initially took charge on an interim basis in September 2024 following the departure of American coach Randy Waldrum. However, the team failed to reproduce its continental dominance at this year’s WAFCON. Nigeria missed out on the semifinals before suffering a 2-1 defeat to South Africa in the playoff match.
The committee will be chaired by former NFF secretary-general Fanny Amun and will include former Super Falcons captain Desire Oparanozie and former Super Eagles captain Mutiu Adepoju. The panel will also accept submissions from members of the public as it conducts its investigation.
The crisis comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the federation, with the current NFF leadership potentially facing major changes ahead of September’s elections. Nigeria’s World Cup failure could therefore have consequences that extend far beyond Madugu’s dismissal.
