- NFF has ordered the Super Falcons’ technical crew to step down
- Nigeria missed the 2027 Women’s World Cup
- The setback followed a disappointing WAFCON campaign
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has directed the technical crew of the Super Falcons to vacate their positions with immediate effect following the team’s disappointing performance at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the federation’s Executive Committee announced the decision on Monday, August 17, through its official X account, but did not provide details on the reasons behind the directive.
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In a brief statement, the NFF said, “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 decision comes after a turbulent tournament for the Super Falcons, who began their WAFCON campaign with a surprising 3-2 defeat to Malawi. The result was particularly unexpected as Malawi were participating in the continental competition for the first time.
Although Nigeria recovered from the setback and progressed to the knockout stage, their campaign ended in the quarter-finals after a defeat to Cameroon. The loss denied the nine-time African champions a direct route to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria subsequently received another opportunity to secure a place at the global tournament through a qualification play-off against South Africa. However, the Super Falcons suffered another defeat, bringing their hopes of reaching the World Cup to an end.
The failure to qualify for the 2027 tournament marks a historic setback for Nigeria, as the Super Falcons had featured in every edition of the Women’s World Cup since the inaugural competition in 1991.
The NFF’s latest decision is therefore expected to trigger changes within the national team’s technical structure as the federation looks to rebuild ahead of future international competitions.
Head coach Justin Madugu and members of his coaching staff are expected to leave following the directive. Madugu had been part of the Super Falcons’ technical setup since his appointment alongside Edwin Okon in November 2021.
The development comes just days after Cameroon secured their first-ever WAFCON title, defeating debutants Malawi 3-0 in the final in Rabat, Morocco.
For the Super Falcons, the immediate task will now be to rebuild after a campaign that ended with both their continental title hopes and long-standing World Cup qualification record coming to an end.
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