NFF sacks Super Falcons head coach, technical crew

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed Justine Madugu, the Super Falcons’ head coach, and the rest of his technical staff. 

The federation announced the decision in a post on X on Monday.

“The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has asked members of the technical crew of the Super Falcons to step down with immediate effect,” the post reads.

On August 13, the Falcons failed to qualify for the 2027 women’s World Cup. The team lost to South Africa in the continental playoff for the competition. This is the first time the Falcons will miss the World Cup since its inception in 1991.

The team had earlier missed out on one of the four automatic tickets for the competition after losing to Cameroon in the quarter-final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

Madugu was under intense scrutiny for his player selections and tactics throughout the disappointing WAFCON campaign.

The 62-year-old leaves the job barely a year after he had led the Falcons to their 10th continental title.

In further reaction to the Falcons’ situation, the NFF inaugurated a six-member “fact-finding” committee to probe the team’s failings.

Fanny Amun, the federation’s former general secretary, was named chair of the panel.

Other panel members include Ladan Bosso, former Flying Eagles coach; Desire Oparanozie, former Super Falcons captain; Mutiu Adepoju, ex-Super Eagles star; and Alex Mana, a former referee.

Nasiru Sa’idu, the chair of Sokoto State Football Association, will serve as the secretary.