Exclusive: Justine Madugu Outlines Super Falcons’ Vision: Rebuild, Regain Glory, and Compete Globally

Nigeria women's national team interim head coach Justine Madugu has opened up about the Super Falcons' ongoing rebuild, player inclusion, and his long-term vision for global success.

The 60-year-old coach took over the nine-time African champions from erstwhile manager Randy Waldrum on an interim basis in September 2024, following the expiration of the American contract.

As the team gears up for a high-profile friendly against France in Anger, his reflections reveal a coach focused on continuous improvement, creating a competitive environment, and preparing for future challenges, particularly at the upcoming Morocco 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco next year.

Rebuilding the Super Falcons: A Work in Progress

Coach Madugu began by acknowledging the Super Falcons are in the process of rebuilding, with several new faces integrating into the four-time Olympic campaigners. Despite the challenges this presents, the CAF A licensed manager was pleased with the performance, particularly from the younger or debutant players.

"Considering the fact that it was a team that we are rebuilding and with the performance the girls put up, I think it was a commendable performance by especially a lot of the new girls that came into the team," Madugu told SportsBoom.com.

"Some of them are first-timers with the Super Falcons. A few of them have played in the junior category. On a general note, I think it was a good performance."

While proud of the progress, Madugu emphasized that the team is still a "work in progress" and there is much work to be done across all departments.

"Even when you score maybe a thousand goals, it is still work in progress. In all the departments, we feel we need to still do better because we must improve the standard of the team and ensure that we make the team far better than where they are today. We would not say we are satisfied with any department because it is still work in progress."

Inclusion of Foreign-Born Players: No Snub, Just Logistics

The Adamawa State-born tactician started his reign, with a ruthless doubleheader win over Algeria in October, winning the first leg 2-0 in Ikenne on October 26 before a 4-1 second-leg triumph at Onikan three days later.   

Amid the controversy surrounding the exclusion of foreign-based players in those fixtures, Madugu made it clear that there was no intentional snubbing.

He emphasised that these players remain integral to the team and any absences were due to logistical issues, such as challenges with work permits or injuries.

"We don’t have any reason to snub any foreign-born player. They are also Nigerians. They have every right to also be part of the team and for now, they are equally part of the team," he continued.

"We extended invitations to some of them and unfortunately some of them had challenges which informed why they were not in the team when we played against Algeria. It’s not as if we snubbed any of them. No."

Madugu confirmed that some foreign-based players would be involved in the upcoming friendly against France, signaling a continued commitment to their inclusion.

"Quite a number of them had challenges in the game against Algeria but for this game against France, invitations were sent to them and they accepted and gladly they will also be part of the friendly game against France."

Key Absences: Player Recovery and Rehabilitation

Coach Madugu also provided updates on key players who were absent due to injury or personal reasons, including Asisat Oshoala, Deborah Abiodun, and Halimatu Ayinde. Despite their absence, Madugu reassured that these players remain a key part of the squad’s future ambitions.

"For Asisat Oshoala like I said to some people that are making inquiries, it’s a documentation problem. She is still working on her work permit and once you apply for your work permit, there are procedures that must be followed and timelines attached to it. That process has not been completed and she can’t leave the USA for now."

Regarding Deborah Abiodun’s injury, he explained her absence from recent fixtures due to rehabilitation, stating:

"For Deborah Abiodun, the last time we spoke, she was just recovering from injury, and she said she still has like three stages of rehabilitation to undertake.

"Considering the fact that this is equally another friendly game, and from the last time till now, when we talk about three stages of rehabilitation, for us we would assume that the player is still not fully fit as to participate in games like this so that we don’t even subject her to more risk."

He mentioned Halimatu Ayinde, who is recovering from injury, as well as the personal loss she endured. He expressed empathy for her situation and the importance of taking the necessary time for recovery:

"For Halimatu Ayinde too. It’s the same thing. She is just recovering. She is undergoing her rehabilitation too and fortunately she just lost her dad also. Although the major reason is the injury and she is still undergoing her rehabilitation."

Facing France: Preparation for Future Competitions

Looking ahead to the friendly against France, Madugu recognized the importance of testing the team against high-level competition. He expressed confidence that many of the foreign-based players would be prepared for the challenge, given their previous experience in top competitions.

"Quite a number of our foreign-based players have played against the top five countries in the world at the last Olympics. Playing against France should not be an issue for quite a number of our foreign-based players. Some played against them at the World Cup."

However, he also highlighted that this would be an important opportunity for home-based players to showcase their abilities on the international stage:

"It’s for the home-based players that we are traveling with that we would try and see how we will also give them opportunities in the course of the game for us to also assess and see how they perform against a top-rated country like that."

Ambitions for WAFCON and Beyond: Regaining Glory

Madugu’s long-term ambition for the Super Falcons is to regain dominance in African women’s football, particularly at the 2024 WAFCON, a competition Nigeria has historically excelled in.

The former Nigeria U20 women's assistant coach acknowledged the challenge but emphasized the goal of winning the tournament again.

"The target for the WAFCON is for us to regain what we have lost in the past. Nigeria has won the WAFCON nine times and we want to have a taste of the trophy once again."

He also reiterated the importance of every friendly match, including the upcoming game against France, as a stepping stone to assess the team’s progress and refine their strategy moving forward.

"The key objective against France, yes, it is a friendly game but we need to ensure that we look at the standards. What is the level we are today and individually we assess the players."

Building a Competitive Squad: Focus on Player Development

Madugu emphasized that creating a competitive atmosphere within the squad is critical to the team’s development. He spoke about the importance of providing opportunities for all players to prove themselves, which in turn strengthens the team.

"We need to see others. We know a lot of them already. We are looking at areas we need to get good substitutes in case something happens, you know you have a backup at least four with a large pool of players to always pick from."

This competitive spirit is designed to make sure no player takes their place for granted, pushing everyone to earn their position and bring their best to the national team.

Improving Across All Departments: Focus on Scoring Goals

Madugu reviewed the team's defensive strengths but stressed that there is still work to be done in attack. He further made it clear that for the Super Falcons to win more matches, they need to score more goals.

"Defensively, I think we have not done badly, although we have been conceding one goal, two goals at most, but going forward we need to score goals. It is only when you score goals that you can win games, especially when you score more than what the opposition can get."

This emphasis on attacking play will be key for the Super Falcons to reach their potential and compete with the world’s best teams.

Patience and Long-Term Development: A Vision for the Future

Coach Madugu’s approach to rebuilding the team reflects his understanding that success takes time. He believes that while progress is being made, it is essential for both the players and fans to remain patient as the team works to reach the top level.

"Football is about entertainment," he said, "but we also want to play attractive football that is very positive and result-oriented."

He concluded by expressing confidence that with time, the team would rise to the occasion and deliver results, citing the example of other countries who have invested in long-term growth to achieve success.

"We are not leaving anything unturned. We are doing our best to ensure we live up to expectations. It’s about time and not magic. You need to give time for people to build what they are really working on and then you begin to see results. We know where we are heading to. We will continue to work till we get to the promised land."