WAFCON 2026: Madugu apologises for Super Falcons’ dismal showing, dismisses sack fears

Justine Madugu, the head coach of Nigeria's women's national football team, the Super Falcons, has expressed regret over their disappointing performance at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The highly accomplished team, boasting ten African titles, was knocked out of the tournament in the quarter-finals by Cameroon's Indomitable Lionesses.

Nigeria's failure to advance to the inter-confederation playoffs, following a 2-1 loss to their rivals Cameroon, marked a historic low for the Super Falcons, as they had not attended the FIFA Women’s World Cup since its inception in 1991.

In a post-match press conference following the team's elimination, Madugu took full responsibility for the Super Falcons' lackluster showing. He apologized to Nigerians for the team's inability to qualify for the prestigious World Cup, assuring them that this was not their intention. Madugu declared, "We came and did the best that we could, but our best was not good enough.

We are very sorry for that, and we take full responsibility for everything that happened." Despite calls for his dismissal in light of the team's poor performance, Madugu remains unfazed about his future with the Super Falcons. He stated, "I am not afraid of being sacked. To the glory of God, I have served my country. It was a privilege that was given to me."

Madugu concluded, "So far, I have played almost 28 games, won 19, lost four and drawn four. But this defeat came at crucial moments that people did not expect."