The Super Falcons of Nigeria will have a new technical crew in place before their 2028 Women's Olympic qualifying campaign begins in October, according to National Sports Commission Director-General Bukola Olopade. This development comes after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) asked the current technical crew, led by coach Justine Madugu, to step down following the team's disappointing performance at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
NFF's Urgent Task
The NFF now faces the urgent task of appointing a new technical crew for the 10-time African champions, with the Olympic qualifying campaign fast approaching. Olopade revealed that the commission is keen on ensuring the team qualifies for the Olympics, drawing a parallel to the recent appointment of coach Eric Chelle for the U-23 team.
“The Olympics are around the corner, we will see how we can tweak the technical team of the Falcons like we did for the U-23, which coach Eric Chelle will handle. This is because we are desirous of qualifying for the Olympics,” Olopade said.
Disappointing WAFCON Campaign
Nigeria endured a difficult WAFCON campaign in Morocco, beginning the tournament with a 3-2 defeat by debutants Malawi in Group C. The Super Falcons' campaign ended in the quarter-finals, where they suffered a 1-0 defeat by Cameroon on August 8, 2026. This marked Nigeria's first elimination at the quarter-final stage of the competition, a historic low for the team.
The defeat also meant the Super Falcons lost automatic qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. Nigeria subsequently had another opportunity to secure a place at the World Cup through the African qualification play-off but lost 2-1 to South Africa in the play-off, ending their hopes of participating in the global tournament.
Looking Ahead to Olympic Qualifiers
With the Olympic qualifiers set to begin in October, the NFF's decision to revamp the technical crew is seen as a critical step to revive the team's fortunes. The new coach will have limited time to prepare the squad, but the commission's commitment to Olympic qualification remains strong.
As the Super Falcons prepare for the upcoming qualifiers, the focus will be on building a competitive team capable of securing a spot at the 2028 Olympics. The appointment of a new technical crew is expected to bring fresh strategies and renewed hope for Nigerian women's football.
