Esther Okoronkwo Credits Justine Madugu for Unlocking Her Best Form with Nigeria

Nigeria forward Esther Okoronkwo has credited head coach Justine Madugu with giving her the tactical freedom to flourish at international level, describing the indigenous coach as someone who allows his players to express themselves and maximise their strengths on the pitch.

Okoronkwo has emerged as one of Nigeria’s most influential attacking players under Madugu, playing a pivotal role in the Super Falcons’ successful TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2024 campaign.

The AFC Toronto striker finished the tournament as the leading assist provider with six assists in six matches and played a decisive role in Nigeria’s dramatic comeback victory over hosts Morocco in the final, delivering the free-kick that Jennifer Echegini converted for the winning goal as the Super Falcons secured a record-extending 10th African title.

Her remarkable performances, coming after recovering from the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that ruled her out of the 2022 WAFCON, also earned her a nomination for the CAF Awards, further underlining her growing influence in African women’s football.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with CAFOnline.com, Okoronkwo said Madugu’s coaching philosophy has enabled her to rediscover her confidence and play naturally in attack.

“He started coaching us in 2023, after the World Cup,” Okoronkwo said.

“Every coach is different and has individual tactics and expectations. It is good to have a coach who allows you to express yourself on the field.”

The 28-year-old forward explained that Madugu’s tactical flexibility has given her the licence to operate beyond the traditional centre-forward role, allowing her to become more creative and unpredictable.

“Under him, I can play freely as a number nine without being restricted to one position. I can drop deeper and express myself,” she added.

With the next Women’s Africa Cup of Nations also serving as a qualification pathway to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Okoronkwo is expected to remain central to Madugu’s plans as the Super Falcons seek to defend their African crown and continue their dominance on the continent.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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