NFF orders Super Falcons coaching staff to step down
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has ordered Super Falcons head coach Justin Madugu and his technical staff to step down with immediate effect following Nigeria’s disappointing campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The decision was taken by the NFF Executive Committee after reviewing the team’s performance at the tournament in Morocco, where Nigeria failed to secure a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Stay updated: Set GistReel as a favorite source on Google to catch our stories first.
Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the global tournament were eventually ended by a 2-1 defeat to South Africa in the World Cup qualifying playoffs.
NFF confirms technical crew’s removal
The federation announced the decision in a statement published on its official X account.
“The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has asked members of the technical crew of the @NGSuper_Falcons to step down with immediate effect,” the NFF wrote.
The move brings an immediate end to Madugu’s spell in charge of the national team as the federation begins the process of reorganising the coaching setup.
Nigeria had entered the WAFCON as defending champions but endured a difficult campaign in Morocco.
The Super Falcons suffered a surprise defeat to tournament debutants Malawi in the group stage before recovering to progress to the knockout rounds.
World Cup failure increases pressure
The quarter-final defeat by Cameroon proved particularly costly, as Nigeria missed the opportunity to qualify automatically for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
The Super Falcons subsequently faced South Africa in the qualifying playoffs but lost 2-1, confirming their absence from the tournament in Brazil.
The result marked a major setback for a team that has traditionally dominated women’s football in Africa.
The federation is also expected to focus on preparations for the next major international assignments, with the Olympics among the competitions on the horizon.