Justin Madugu recounts progress after Nigeria’s WAFCON 2024 qualification

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria’s women’s team interim coach Justin Madugu has appluaded the hard-fighting spirit character of his side following the country’s successful qualification to the Morocco 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in November.

It has been a jolly good ride for Madugu who took over as stand-in coach following the expiration of Randy Waldrum’s contract in October as the 59-year-old had oversen four games – two each in the Olympics and Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers, guiding the team to Morocco 2024.

The Super Falcons recorded aggregate wins over Ethiopia in the Olympics qualifiers and also recorded the same feat over Cape Verde, notching 12 goals in four matches, including convincing 4-0 and 5-0 home wins.

“The two games we play against Cape Verde, well the team quality from this set of players is coming in,” Madugu told NigeriaFootball.ng

“From the first game, despite the scoreline was much better than the second game. They are beginning to establish the character of the team, coming down from a goal and going ahead to win was showing teamwork and doggedness amongst the players.

“Against Ethiopia, we conceded an early goal and we were able to come back from it. We equally conceded in the game. We had a lot of chances, that we ought to use.”

Within a month in charge, the Nigeria Women’s Football League Premiership players have had their chances as Robo Queens striker Opeyemi Ajakaye and Rivers Angels star Chiamaka Okwuchukwu earned their senior debuts.

“Overall, the two games were okay. Some of the young ones coming into the team are also putting up a good fight, good performances they have justified why they should also be in a team,” he continued.

“For me, I think it is a good headway to have them. It will bring more competition in the team and bring out the best in them. We look at the hunger in them, who is more committed and more ready. For me, it is not too much of a worry as we have options in the team.

“It is you know the higher you go and the more you meet tougher teams you will need to be more clinical. You may not be creating more chances against your position so the opportunities that you have you have to take them and not be wasteful.

“It’s a good thing that we are able to create more chances in a situation where we are not able to create chances in a game we should become more worried. They are creating the opportunities but conversion is the problem. It’s an area that we will also work on and we are encouraging our players so that they work on these too.”

The Super Falcons will next face Cameroon in the next round of the Olympics Qualifiers next year in a bid to return to the women’s football event of the summer games in Paris after an absence from the last three editions.