Justine Madugu wishes for more friendlies ahead of WAFCON 2024

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

After a 2-0 win over Cameroon in an international friendly match at MKO Abiola Sports Complex, Abeokuta, Ogun state on Tuesday, the head coach of Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, Justine Madugu says he prefers to have more games to test more players ahead of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

The Super Falcons will also play Portugal this week before heading to Morocco for the next WAFCON taking place in July.

Irrespective of the few friendlies, Madugu opined that the few games shouldn’t be used as an excuse ahead of the biggest women’s football mundial on the continent.

“I must confess, we would have appreciated the opportunity of playing more games so that we can put to the test our philosophy and strategies we intend to adopt in the Nations Cup,” Madugu told journalists during a post-match press conference.

“It could also have given us the opportunity of allowing a lot of other players to see what they can also do, having which we will now determine who and who we can also take to the Nations Cup, but we have to make do with what we have and try as much as possible maximize this opportunity and to ensure that we do our best and get the girls very prepared before the WAFCON.

“This is where we are. We cannot begin to look back and make excuses. We must keep working and ensure that we put the team together that will make Nigerians very happy.”

A brace from Rasheedat Ajibade lifted the nine-time African champions to a 2-0 win over the Indomitable Lionesses on Tuesday.

While appreciating the gallantry of his players, Madugu understood the prestige behind the victory over rivals and neighbors in Cameroon.

“I want to appreciate the players for the performance. For us, it is still a work in progress. We are still trying to put hearts together and finishing touches to our preparations,” He added.

“I think they [players] did very well but we still have a lot of things that we need to work on. We still must commend the girls for the gallant efforts they put in as far as the game is concerned.

“We all know games between Nigeria and Cameroon, on paper, they look friendly, but then there is always the prestige at stake, and everybody tries as much as possible to ensure that they don’t disappoint your fellow countrymen. By the result of today’s match, we appreciate what the girls have done.” He concluded.

The team will now shift focus on their next friendly match against European side, Portugal later this month.