NFF sacks Madugu and Super Falcons crew after WAFCON 2026 exit

The Nigeria Football Federation has removed Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu and the other members of his technical crew after the team’s disappointing 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign. Nigeria lost 1-0 to Cameroon in the quarter-finals before suffering a 2-1 defeat to South Africa in the World Cup qualification playoffs.

The NFF Executive Committee directed the coaching staff to leave their positions with immediate effect. The decision was announced on Monday, but the federation has not named replacements or outlined plans for the team’s next technical leadership.

Nigeria’s defeat by Cameroon ended their WAFCON campaign in the last eight, marking the first time the nine-time African champions had failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals. The result also ended their chance of securing an automatic place at the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

The Super Falcons then had to pursue qualification through the playoff route. They needed to defeat South Africa in the African stage to move on to the inter-confederation playoffs, but the 2-1 loss to Banyana Banyana ended that route. Nigeria will therefore not appear at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

Madugu had faced growing pressure over the team’s performances during the tournament. The NFF has also set up and inaugurated a fact-finding committee to examine poor results involving the country’s national teams in recent years, adding to the scrutiny around the Falcons’ campaign.

The coaching change leaves the nine-time African champions without an announced technical team. The federation’s next appointment will come as Nigeria begins the process of rebuilding after its earliest-ever WAFCON elimination and failure to reach the 2027 World Cup.