Nigeria Football Federation dismisses Super Falcons coaching staff

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed head coach Justin Madugu and the entire technical crew of the Super Falcons with immediate effect. The decision follows the team’s historic failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and a disappointing performance at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

During the WAFCON tournament, the nine-time African champions suffered an early exit after losing 1-0 to Cameroon in the quarter-finals. This result prevented them from securing an automatic qualification spot for the World Cup. Nigeria’s final chance to qualify was extinguished following a 2-1 defeat to South Africa in the African play-offs. This marks the first time the Super Falcons will miss a Women’s World Cup since the tournament began in 1991.

In addition to the coaching overhaul, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau has inaugurated a six-member fact-finding committee to investigate the causes of recent poor performances by Nigeria’s national teams. The committee, chaired by former Technical Director Fanny Amun, has been tasked with providing practical solutions to the challenges facing Nigerian football. Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade issued an apology to fans, acknowledging the pain of the team's absence from the upcoming global tournament.