NFF Orders Super Falcons Technical Crew to Step Down

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has directed members of the Super Falcons’ technical crew to step down from their positions with immediate effect.

The decision comes after a difficult 2026 campaign in which Nigeria failed to secure an automatic qualification ticket for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The NFF Executive Committee announced the directive in a brief statement on Monday but did not disclose the reason for the decision.

“The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has asked members of the technical crew of the @NGSuper_Falcons to step down with immediate effect,” the federation said.

The directive follows the Super Falcons’ disappointing campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where they suffered an early setback against Malawi in their opening Group C match.

Malawi, competing at the tournament for the first time, went on to reach the final before losing to Cameroon, who claimed their first WAFCON title on Sunday.

Nigeria’s campaign ended in the quarter-finals after a defeat by Cameroon, denying the Super Falcons an automatic qualification ticket for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The team subsequently had another opportunity to secure a place at the World Cup through a playoff against South Africa but also suffered defeat.

The outcome leaves Nigeria with another route to qualify for the global tournament, while the NFF has moved to overhaul the team’s technical setup.

Madugu-Led Crew Asked to Leave

The Super Falcons technical crew is headed by coach Justin Madugu, alongside his assistants and other backroom staff.

In November 2021, the NFF appointed Madugu and Edwin Okon as members of the Super Falcons’ technical crew as part of efforts to rejig the national team’s coaching structure.

The latest directive means the federation will now have to determine the next technical leadership of the nine-time African champions.

Nigeria’s women’s team had been seeking to recover from the disappointment of missing the 2026 FIFA Women’s World Cup but now faces another major transition ahead of the next qualification campaign.

The Super Falcons’ latest setback also comes after their male counterparts, the Super Eagles, failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Nigeria missed automatic qualification after finishing second in their group before losing to DR Congo 4–3 on penalties in the African playoff final following a 1–1 draw after extra time.