The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has sacked Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu and the entire technical crew following the team’s failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The federation announced the decision on Monday in a post on its official X account, directing members of the 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.
The decision comes after the Super Falcons suffered a 1–0 defeat to South Africa on August 13 in the continental playoff for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
The result ended Nigeria’s long-standing record of appearing at every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 1991.
The Falcons had earlier missed out on one of Africa’s four automatic qualification tickets after losing to Cameroon in the quarter-final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Madugu came under intense criticism during the tournament, with questions raised over his player selections and tactical decisions as the Falcons struggled to secure qualification for the global showpiece.
The 62-year-old coach leaves the position less than a year after guiding Nigeria to a record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.
NFF Sets Up Fact-Finding Panel
In a further move to address the team’s disappointing campaign, the NFF has constituted and inaugurated a six-member fact-finding committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Falcons’ failure.
Former NFF General Secretary Fanny Amun was appointed chairman of the committee.
Other members are former Flying Eagles coach Ladan Bosso, former Super Falcons captain Desire Oparanozie, former Super Eagles midfielder Mutiu Adepoju, and former referee Alex Mana.
The chairman of the Sokoto State Football Association, Nasiru Sa’idu, will serve as secretary.
The committee is expected to examine the factors behind the Falcons’ disappointing campaign and make recommendations to the football federation on the way forward.
The development marks a major shake-up in Nigeria’s women’s football setup as the NFF begins efforts to rebuild the Super Falcons following their unprecedented failure to qualify for the Women’s World Cup.
