Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu and members of his technical crew following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Gatekeepers News reports that the NFF Executive Committee announced the decision on Monday, directing the technical crew to step down with immediate effect. The federation, however, did not give a specific reason for the decision in its announcement.
The development comes days after the Super Falcons suffered a 2-1 defeat to South Africa in the African play-off for a place at the 2027 World Cup, which will be hosted by Brazil.
Nigeria had earlier lost their automatic World Cup qualification opportunity after a 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Cameroon at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The defeat ended Nigeria’s hopes of defending their WAFCON title and marked the first time the Super Falcons had been eliminated at the quarter-final stage of the competition.
Following the WAFCON exit, Nigeria still had another route to the World Cup through the African play-off. However, the Falcons’ loss to South Africa ended that opportunity, meaning Nigeria will miss the Women’s World Cup for the first time since the tournament began.
Madugu’s dismissal brings an end to his tenure as head coach of the senior women’s national team, while the NFF has yet to announce a replacement or provide details on when a new technical crew will be appointed.
The decision comes amid growing criticism of the team’s performance during the 2026 WAFCON and the subsequent failure to secure a World Cup ticket.
The NFF’s move also follows calls for accountability over Nigeria’s disappointing campaign, with TheCable previously reporting criticism of the federation’s handling of the team and Madugu’s appointment.
The Super Falcons, who have won the WAFCON a record nine times, will now begin preparations for their next competitive cycle under a new technical structure.
