Super Falcons head coach, Justine Madugu, has confirmed that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has renewed his contract for another two years, extending his tenure until October 2027.
Madugu revealed the development shortly after guiding Nigeria’s 10-time African champions to qualification for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), following a 1-1 draw with the Benin Republic in Abeokuta on Tuesday — a result that sealed a 3-1 aggregate victory.
“I have been given a new contract from October 1, 2025, to October 1, 2027,” the 61-year-old tactician announced during his post-match press conference.
Despite celebrating qualification, Madugu admitted that the team’s performance against Benin was below expectations.
“The draw didn’t come as a surprise because we knew it was going to be a tough game. It was not going to be easy based on what we knew about the Beninoise team,” he explained.
“However, I want to apologise to Nigerians for not meeting their expectations. The Super Falcons always carry high hopes whenever we play, and sometimes, there can be off days. Today was one of those days.”
Madugu described the match as a “wake-up call” for his side ahead of the 2026 WAFCON, which also serves as a qualifying tournament for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
“We are not too disappointed. We’re taking this as a reminder that there’s still a lot of work to be done,” he added.
In Tuesday’s encounter, defender Ashleigh Plumptre scored her first-ever goal for Nigeria, heading home Esther Okoronkwo’s corner in the 12th minute before Benin equalised later in the game. The result, however, was enough to secure Nigeria’s place in next year’s continental championship.
The Super Falcons will now turn their attention to preparations for the 2026 WAFCON, scheduled to hold from March 17 to April 3, as they aim to defend their crown and secure early qualification for the next World Cup.
