The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has ordered the Super Falcons’ technical crew to step down with immediate effect following the team’s disappointing 2026 campaign.

The NFF Executive Committee announced the decision on Monday without giving a specific reason for the directive.

The move comes after Nigeria’s early exit from the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and subsequent failure to secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has asked members of the technical crew of the @NGSuper_Falcons to step down with immediate effect,” the federation wrote.

The technical crew is led by head coach Justin Madugu, with the NFF also instructing the other members of the coaching and backroom staff to leave their positions.

WAFCON setback
Nigeria endured a difficult WAFCON campaign in Morocco, beginning the tournament with a 3-2 defeat by debutants Malawi in Group C.

Malawi went on to reach the final before losing 3-0 to Cameroon, who won their first WAFCON title.

The Super Falcons’ campaign ended in the quarter-finals, where they suffered a 1-0 defeat by Cameroon. It was Nigeria’s first elimination at the quarter-final stage of the competition.

The defeat also denied Nigeria an automatic qualification place for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

World Cup miss
Nigeria subsequently had another opportunity to secure a place at the World Cup through the African qualification play-off but lost to South Africa.

The result left the Super Falcons facing another route to the 2027 tournament, while the NFF moved to make changes to the technical setup.

The decision follows mounting scrutiny of the team’s performance during the WAFCON and its failure to secure a direct World Cup qualification place.

Madugu’s tenure
Madugu and Edwin Okon were appointed to the Super Falcons’ technical crew in November 2021 as part of the NFF’s decision to rejig the national team’s coaching structure.

Madugu later became head coach as the federation continued its preparations for major international competitions.

The NFF has yet to announce a replacement or provide details on the next technical structure for the Super Falcons.

Nigeria’s setback comes after Cameroon claimed the WAFCON title for the first time, defeating Malawi 3-0 in the final in Rabat on Sunday.

The Super Falcons remain one of Africa’s most successful women’s national teams, having won the WAFCON title a record 10 times.

The NFF’s latest decision also comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the Super Eagles.

The men’s team finished second in their qualifying group and subsequently lost to DR Congo on penalties in the African play-off final after a 1-1 draw following extra time.

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