The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed Justine Madugu and his technical staff following the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The federation announced the decision on Monday, directing members of the Super Falcons’ technical crew to step down with immediate effect.
“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 NFF said in a post on X.
The decision followed the Falcons’ 13 August elimination from the 2027 Women’s World Cup after they lost to South Africa in the continental playoff.
The defeat marked a historic setback for Nigeria, as the Super Falcons will miss the Women’s World Cup for the first time since the tournament was inaugurated in 1991.
The team had earlier failed to secure one of the four automatic qualification tickets after losing to Cameroon in the quarter-final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Madugu had come under intense scrutiny during the WAFCON campaign over his player selections and tactical decisions.
His dismissal comes barely a year after he guided the Super Falcons to their record-extending 10th continental title.
In response to the team’s disappointing performance and failure to qualify for the World Cup, the NFF also appointed and inaugurated a six-member fact-finding committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Falcons’ recent setbacks.
The committee is chaired by Fanny Amun, a former NFF general secretary.
Other members are Ladan Bosso, former Flying Eagles coach; Desire Oparanozie, former Super Falcons captain; Mutiu Adepoju, former Super Eagles midfielder; and Alex Mana, a former referee.
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Nasiru Sa’idu, chairman of the Sokoto State Football Association, will serve as secretary of the committee.
The panel is expected to examine the factors responsible for the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 World Cup and make recommendations to the federation on the way forward.
The NFF’s decision puts an immediate focus on rebuilding the women’s national team ahead of upcoming international competitions, following the end of Nigeria’s long-standing presence at every edition of the Women’s World Cup.
