The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Madugu

  • 2026 Women’s AFCON Race:  Madugu orders Super Falcons to go for goals against Benin

    2026 Women’s AFCON Race:  Madugu orders Super Falcons to go for goals against Benin

    The 25,000 -capacity Stade de Kégué in the Togolese capital, Lome is venue for Friday’s 2026 Women Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying fixture, first leg match between 10-time champions Nigeria and their Beninese  counterparts, known as Amazons, with the Cup holders seeking a comfortable win that will render the return leg in Nigeria on Tuesday a mere formality.

    Head Coach Justine Madugu has a total of 19 players available for the encounter, and has promised his squad will go all out for the goals that will earn it the ticket to a defence of the title won in Morocco this summer. The Kingdom of Morocco will also host next year’s house party, where all semi-finalists will collect automatic qualification tickets to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Brazil.

    “We have a team that will go out there and make us proud. Yes, we would have loved to have Jennifer (Echegini) but we do not and we can only pray for her to recover quickly.

     “On Friday, we will go out and play our game and seek the goals that will put us in a good stead ahead of the return leg.”

    With Echegini out, Madugu is likely to opt for US-based impresario Deborah Abiodun to start, alongside captain Rasheedat Ajibade and Christy Ucheibe in the middle, with Chiamaka Nnadozie (one of the best goalkeepers in the world) marshalling a defence-line of Michelle Alozie, Tosin Demehin, Osinachi Ohale and Ashley Plumptre.

    In the fore, Madugu has Esther Okoronkwo (doubtless one of Nigeria’s impact players at this year’s Women AFCON), the push-full Chinwendu Ihezuo, six-time Africa Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala, new-face Joy Omewa and China-based Folashade Ijamilusi, who was also a delight as Nigeria won a tenth AFCON title in Morocco this summer.

    Read Also: Madugu, Nnadozie  ‘missing’ as Ballon d’Or holds today in Paris

    Gambian official Ngum Fatou will be the referee of the encounter that begins at 3pm Togo time (4pm Nigeria time).   

    SUPER FALCONS TO FACE AMAZONS:

    Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton Hove & Albion, England); Anderline Mgbechi (Rivers Angels)

    Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma, Italy); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies FC, Saudi Arabia); Blessing Ilivieda (Bayelsa Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive, Turkey); Miracle Usani (Abia Angels)

    Midfielders: Rasheedat Ajibade (Paris Saint Germain, France); Taiwo Afolabi (Rivers Angels); Deborah Abiodun (Washington Spirit, USA); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal)

    Forwards: Chinwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Joy Omewa (Fortuna Hjorrin FC, Denmark); Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto, Canada); Asisat Oshoala (Al Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia); Folashade Ijamilusi (Liaoning Shenyang Shenbei Hefeng, China); Kafayat Mafisere (Edo Queens).

  • Madugu, Ajibade recount  WAFCON glory, target global challenges

    Madugu, Ajibade recount  WAFCON glory, target global challenges

    Super Falcons head coach Justine  Madugu has hailed Nigeria’s triumph at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) as a testament to the team’s resilience and mental strength, while emphasizing the need for greater preparation and investment to compete at the global level.

    Nigeria secured their 10th  WAFCON title with a dramatic 3–2 comeback win against host nation Morocco on July 26 in Rabat.

    Speaking at a celebratory breakfast hosted yesterday, July 31st, by MTN Nigeria at the Eko Hotels in Lagos, head coach Justin Madugu shared insights into the tactical adjustments that helped the Super Falcons turn the WAFCON final in their favour.

    He said: “At halftime, we told the girls that once we scored a goal, the pressure would shift to Morocco, we worked on their mindset, they began to believe again, and that changed everything, to the glory of God, it worked.”

    While proud of the achievement, Madugu urged that the focus must now shift to preparing for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

     “The challenge now is time, these players are professionals with club obligations, and we only get a few days with them before major tournaments, that’s not enough to build a World Cup-winning team, but we won’t give excuses, we’ll do the best we can with what we have.”

    Read Also: Nigeria to compete at 2026 Flag Football World Cup

    The coach also addressed criticism of his team selections and tactics during the tournament.

    He said:  “You can’t lead without being criticized, but I know what these players can do, I stay with them every day. I take decisions not to please everyone, but to get results, and that’s what we’ve done.”

    Team captain Rasheedat Ajibade echoed Madugu’s sentiments and challenged the nation to invest in taking the team to the next level.

    She said, “We’ve made history with this 10th title, but we’re not satisfied, we want to be global contenders, the mission is bigger now, and we’re ready for it.”

    Ajibade also called for deeper collaboration between the government, the football federation, and corporate bodies.

     “We understand the responsibility that comes with this win, now we need everyone, the NFF, the federal government, private sponsors, to keep investing in us so we can compete on the world stage,” she added.