THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Super Falcons coach Madugu identifies what the team needs to win the WAFCON Madugu,who was nominated for the 2025 Ballon d'Or Johan Cruyff Award, recently signed a two-year contract extension after leading the team to victory in the previous WAFCON edition. With a World Cup spot on the line at the 2026 tournament, the 62-year-old coach has outlined his strategy for retaining the continental crown. The Super Falcons will begin their WAFCON 2026 title defence in Group C, with their opening match scheduled against Malawi's Scorchers on July 28th at Stade El Barid. In a recent interview with CAF Online, the former Plateau United manager emphasised that despite their success, the ten-time African champions are not a finished product. "We are not a perfect team yet. We have made a lot of observations in the course of the pre-WAFCON matches we played and even during the WAFCON itself. We have analysed many areas that we know we need to work on." While Madugu chose not to disclose the specific technical details, he stressed the coaching staff's commitment to continuous development. "These are technical areas that we will keep to ourselves while we continue working on them. “The imp…

Madugu Targets Successful WAFCON Title Defence With Falcons Justine Madugu has outlined ambitious targets for the Super Falcons ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, with the team aiming to retain their continental crown and secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The Super Falcons claimed a record-extending 10th WAFCON title at the last edition of the tournament in Morocco and will return to the North African nation determined to defend their crown. The stakes are even higher this time, as the 2026 WAFCON will also serve as the African qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Madugu Outlines Super Falcons’ Ambition Madugu said the Super Falcons are focused on achieving both objectives—booking a place at the global showpiece and winning a record-extending 11th continental title. “The next WAFCON will also serve as qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, so our priority will first be to ensure that we make it to the World Cup. The second goal will be to defend the trophy and bring it back to Nigeria,” Madugu told CAFonline . Read Also: Pre-WAFCON 2026 Friendlies: Madugu Unveils Squad For Super Falcons Vs Senegal “W…

Africa: Justine Madugu - How Wafcon 2024 Success Changed My Life [CAF] Winning the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) as head coach of the Super Falcons was the culmination of years of dedication and experience for Nigeria manager Justine Madugu. Having served in multiple coaching roles across different WAFCON campaigns - Equatorial Guinea 2012, Namibia 2014, Ghana 2018, Morocco 2022, and 2024 editions respectively- the 62-year-old finally guided Nigeria back to the summit of African women's football as the man in charge.

Akeem Busari Confident Flamingos Will Overcome Benin in FIFA U-17 Women ... Nigeria U-17 women’s national team head coach, Akeem Busari, has expressed confidence that the Flamingos will emerge victorious when they face the Benin Republic in the first leg of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers on Saturday. Speaking ahead of the crucial encounter, Busari acknowledged the growing competitiveness of women’s football across Africa, stressing that every nation is eager to secure a place at the global tournament. “It’s always a keenly contested affair between Nigeria and other African nations because everybody wants to be part of the World Cup. Nigeria has consistently been among the contenders, and every match is like a tug of war. I believe Benin Republic are well prepared, and we are equally prepared. The 90 minutes will decide the outcome, and I believe we will come out victorious.” The coach explained that the current squad is the product of a structured developmental process that began with nationwide screening exercises in Abuja. According to him, the team is still evolving as new players continue to be integrated into the setup. “In football, development is a gradual proce…

Super Falcons Coach Madugu Reveals Key To WAFCON Success The head coach of Nigeria’s Super Falcons and Ballon d’Or nominee, Justine Madugu on Thursday highlighted key areas his team must improve as they prepare to defend their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in Morocco . Madugu, who was nominated for the 2025 Ballon d’Or Johan Cruyff Award, recently signed a two-year contract extension after guiding Nigeria to triumph in the previous edition of the tournament. Advertisement With qualification for the 2026 FIFA Women’s World Cup also at stake, the 62-year-old has begun outlining his approach to retaining the continental crown while keeping the team competitive on the global stage. New Telegraph reports that the Super Falcon will launch their WAFCON 2026 campaign in Group C, with their opening fixture set against Malawi’s Scorchers on July 28 at Stade El Barid. Advertisement Madugu Speaks On Super Falcons’ Development Needs In a recent interview with CAF Online, former Plateau United manager and Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu stressed that despite their achievements, the reigning African champions are still a work in progress. Advertisement “We are not a perfec…

Africa: Justine Madugu - How Wafcon 2024 Success Changed My Life Winning the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) as head coach of the Super Falcons was the culmination of years of dedication and experience for Nigeria manager Justine Madugu. Having served in multiple coaching roles across different WAFCON campaigns - Equatorial Guinea 2012, Namibia 2014, Ghana 2018, Morocco 2022, and 2024 editions respectively- the 62-year-old finally guided Nigeria back to the summit of African women's football as the man in charge. For Madugu, who holds a CAF A license and is currently a PhD student, the triumph represented more than just lifting a trophy. The Adamawa State-born tactician also recounted that it brought greater recognition, reinforced confidence in indigenous coaches, and reflected the importance of teamwork, discipline, and creating a united environment capable of overcoming adversity. The title-winning campaign also showed the resilience of the Super Falcons, who stayed focused despite distractions and logistical challenges throughout the tournament. According to the coach, whose current two-year contract runs out in October 2027, maintaining belief and togetherness p…

Madugu targets World Cup ticket, WAFCON title defence Sports July 1, 2026 byTunde Liadi Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu says guiding Nigeria to the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title transformed both his personal and professional life, while reinforcing his belief in the ability of indigenous coaches to succeed at the highest level. Madugu, who had previously served as an assistant coach in five WAFCON campaigns before leading the Falcons to continental glory, described the triumph as one of the defining moments of his coaching career. “It’s always a good thing when you succeed in an assignment of such magnitude,” Madugu told CAFOnline. “Football means so much to Nigerians, so fulfilling their expectations made us extremely happy.” The CAF A Licence holder said the success earned him greater recognition from government, corporate organisations and football stakeholders, while also helping to change perceptions about local coaches. “Professionally, it gave us the belief that we can still do more. People don’t always give indigenous coaches the respect they deserve, but this achievement has shown that we are capable. We have set the pace and must continu…

Justin Madugu: The Mastermind Behind Nigeria's Historic WAFCON Triumph Justin Madugu: The Mastermind Behind Nigeria's Historic WAFCON Triumph by Our Reporter - July 27, 2025 0 The Nigerian Super Falcons' unprecedented tenth Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in 2024 was not just a testament to the players' talent, but also a resounding validation of Head Coach Justin Madugu's tactical acumen and leadership throughout the tournament. Named the Coach of the Tournament, Madugu masterminded Nigeria's triumphant campaign, culminating in a historic comeback in the final. Madugu took the reins of a team with immense potential and a legacy of dominance, and he successfully navigated the Super Falcons through every challenge. His strategic approach was evident from the group stages, where Nigeria showcased both offensive power and defensive solidity. However, his true genius shone brightest in the final against host nation Morocco. Trailing 2-0 at halftime, a lesser coach might have seen their team falter. But Madugu's halftime adjustments, motivational prowess, and tactical decisions proved to be pivotal. He instilled belief in his players, leading them to stage a remarkable sec…