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NFF President Ibrahim Gusau praises Justine Madugu’s impact on Super Falcons’ WAFCON triumph
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has commended Coach Justine Madugu for his instrumental role in guiding the Nigeria’s senior women’s national team to an unbeaten championship run at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
In an exclusive interview with CAFOnline.com, Gusau reflected on the NFF’s decision to appoint Madugu as interim head coach, describing it as a bold but calculated move made under his administration.
“His impact is very clear. You could see it in every match as we progressed,” Gusau stated.
“The key thing is that he knows the team very well, because he has been with the team for a long time.”
Gusau emphasized the importance of trusting and investing in indigenous talent, especially coaches who possess both the technical expertise and a deep understanding of their squads.
“We need to have confidence in our indigenous coaches, especially when they have the qualifications and technical experience. Coach Madugu has both. He had been part of the team for over three years, so we felt it was time to give him that opportunity,” he explained.
The NFF President further reiterated the federation’s commitment to supporting Madugu’s continued development and success.
“We will do all we can to support him — technically and otherwise — so he is well-equipped to face future challenges.”
Madugu’s historic WAFCON win not only delivered Nigeria’s 10th continental title but also sent a strong message across African football: local excellence can compete — and win — at the highest levels.
His success is seen as a transformative moment for African women’s football and a validation of Nigeria’s homegrown coaching capabilities.
