Nigeria’s senior women’s national team head coach Justin Madugu has urged Nigerian fans to remain calm following the team’s disappointing defeat to Malawi, insisting there is no reason to panic.
This came after a 3-2 loss to Malawi in the opening match of 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Rabat on Tuesday.
Addressing the criticism after the loss, Madugu acknowledged the frustration of supporters but believes some of the reactions have been excessive.
“I know a lot of people at home are angry right now. That’s fine. You’re allowed to feel that way.
“But some of the reactions I’m seeing are exaggerated. We lost one match. It happens. Malawi played above themselves and we didn’t finish our chances. End of story.
The Super Falcons coach stressed that the team still has everything to play for, with two crucial group-stage matches remaining.
“I’m not going to stand here and pretend this is the end of the world. We still have two games left in the group. If the players react the right way, this result will be forgotten quickly.
Madugu also reaffirmed his commitment to guiding the team back on track, insisting that staying composed is the key to a strong response.
“Fans can shout as much as they want. My job is to stay calm and fix it. That’s what I’m doing.”
With qualification still within reach, all eyes will be on the Super Falcons to see how they respond in their upcoming fixtures and whether Madugu can inspire an immediate turnaround.
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.
