Justin Madugu to step in as NFF searches for Super Falcons coach after Olympics

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is in search of a head coach for the senior women’s national team after the Paris 2024 Olympics, according BSN Sports.

With the expiration of Randy Waldrum after the Olympics, the country’s football authorities will not appoint a new coach till next year due to non-participation in any game or major tournament this year.

The NFF source added that in a deliberate attempt to get the best from home-based players, Justin Madugu will be announced as Interim coach, and he is set to invite 30 home-based players to camp before the commencement of the 2024/2025 NWFL Premiership season.

The development marks the intended end of Waldrum’s era as Super Falcons coach since 2018.

Without a title in charge, his major highlight was leading the team to the Round of 16 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and qualifying the team for the Olympics for the first time since 2008.

Madugu is not new to the team as he was in charge temporarily after the last World Cup while NFF continued negotiation with Waldrum’s contract extension.

On an interim basis, Madugu guided the team for three wins and one draw, including a 5-1 aggregate win over Ethiopia in the Olympics Qualifiers and also earned qualification for the 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after a 7-1 aggregate win against Cape Verde.

Since Waldrum took over after the extension of his contract, the team has played eight games with two wins, two draws, and four losses.

In the process, the nine-time African champions scored three goals and conceded six.