NFF dismisses Super Falcons staff after WAFCON quarter-final exit

The Nigeria Football Federation has removed the Super Falcons’ technical crew after a WAFCON campaign that left Nigeria without automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The decision affects a team that has won the African title 10 times and appeared at every Women’s World Cup since 1991.

The NFF Executive Committee instructed all members of the coaching staff to leave their positions with immediate effect. The federation announced the move on Monday but did not give a specific explanation for it.

Head coach Justin Madugu led the technical setup, with Ann Chiejine serving as his assistant. The pair were appointed in 2024 during a restructuring of the Super Falcons’ coaching team.

Nigeria’s WAFCON campaign included a group-stage loss to Malawi, who were competing at the tournament for the first time. The Super Falcons still advanced from their group, but their run ended in the quarter-finals against Cameroon.

That early exit carried a major sporting consequence. Nigeria failed to claim an automatic place at the 2027 World Cup, ending its position as a team present at every edition of the women’s global tournament since its launch in 1991.

Madugu had guided the Super Falcons to their 10th WAFCON crown last year. The latest campaign, however, did not match the standard expected from one of Africa’s most successful women’s national teams, and the NFF has now brought his tenure and the wider technical arrangement to an immediate close.