Madugu warns Super Falcons to evolve before South Africa play-off

Nigeria coach Justine Madugu has stated that the Super Falcons must move away from relying on their previous successes and accelerate their development. The warning comes ahead of a decisive World Cup play-off against South Africa at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Thursday, 13 August.

The stakes for the match are high, as the loser will be eliminated from the race for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. Both nations were knocked out during the WAFCON quarter-finals, with Nigeria losing 1-0 to Cameroon and South Africa falling to Morocco. Because automatic qualification was reserved for the four semi-finalists, these two teams must now compete for the final African route into the intercontinental play-offs.

Madugu noted that other nations are investing heavily in women's football, which has improved their gameplay and results. He argued that Nigeria cannot remain in isolation and must match the development efforts seen elsewhere to remain at the top. The coach emphasized that victory cannot be expected without consistent work and structural changes across several areas of the team.

Preparation issues have also hindered the squad. Madugu previously highlighted difficulties in arranging high-level matches, noting that some countries were reluctant to play Nigeria. While the team played Senegal twice in June, a planned double-header against Cape Verde was cancelled and another proposed tournament did not take place. This left the defending champions with insufficient competitive preparation heading into WAFCON.

Nigeria's recent form has been inconsistent. After a 3-2 loss to Malawi on 28 July, the team secured wins against Zambia and Egypt. As ten-time African champions who have attended every Women's World Cup since 1991, a loss to South Africa would mean the Super Falcons miss the global tournament for the first time in history.