Nigeria’s national team coach, Justine Madugu, has been recognized as the Coach of the Tournament for the 2024 CAF TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
This accolade celebrates his exceptional leadership, which guided the Super Falcons to an unprecedented tenth continental championship.
Madugu’s selection as a pivotal figure in the tournament marks a significant milestone in his coaching career.
Appointed as interim head coach only a few months before the competition, the 61-year-old strategist capitalized on this major opportunity to secure a trophy and re-establish Nigeria’s dominance in African women’s football.
Prior to his latest appointment, Madugu had twice served as interim coach under former American head coach Randy Waldrum.
He also functioned as an assistant coach during Nigeria’s three previous WAFCON appearances.
This included title wins in 2014 under Edwin Okon and in 2018 with Thomas Dennerby, as well as a fourth-place finish in 2022 under Waldrum.
For the 2024 campaign, the Nigeria Football Federation placed its trust in the experienced, locally-developed coach, and he delivered on that confidence.
Though relatively unknown on the international stage before the Morocco 2024 tournament, the Adamawa-born coach quickly demonstrated his capabilities.
He skillfully integrated seasoned players with emerging talents, and combined local players with international professionals, forging a unified and tactically adept squad.
Under Madugu’s stewardship, the Super Falcons maintained an unbeaten record throughout the competition, conceding only three goals.
Their performances were consistently strong, highlighted by a commanding 5-0 victory over Zambia and a hard-fought 2-1 triumph against reigning champions South Africa in the semifinals.
The team ultimately secured the coveted title with a comeback win over host nation Morocco in the final match.
Madugu’s strategic brilliance, which blended robust defense with incisive attacking play, was instrumental to Nigeria’s successful “Mission X” campaign, culminating in their record-breaking tenth WAFCON trophy.
His impressive professional background includes technical roles in major global tournaments, such as the 2020 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago, the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Chile, and the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cups.
He was also part of Nigeria’s teams that won gold at the 2015 All Africa Games and secured the 2019 WAFU-B Women’s Cup title.
With this recent continental triumph, Madugu is now expected to guide the Super Falcons in their defense of the WAFCON title in 2026 and spearhead their efforts in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
After successive Round of 16 exits in the last two World Cups, Nigeria is aiming for higher achievements. With Madugu at the helm, the Super Falcons appear strategically poised to pursue global glory.
Under Justin Madugu’s guidance, the Super Falcons have rediscovered their competitive prowess—remaining undefeated, conceding just one goal, and overcoming three former champions on their path to the final.
