The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has directed the entire technical crew of the Super Falcons to step down with immediate effect following the team’s failure to secure qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The NFF Executive Committee announced the decision in a brief statement on Monday but did not disclose specific reasons for the move.
“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 decision follows a disappointing 2026 campaign for the Super Falcons, whose hopes of securing an automatic ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup suffered a major setback during the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria opened its Group C campaign with a shock defeat to Malawi, who were appearing in the competition for the first time. Malawi went on to reach the final, where they lost to Cameroon, who claimed the WAFCON title for the first time on Sunday.
The Super Falcons’ campaign ended in the quarter-finals after they were defeated by Cameroon, denying Nigeria an automatic qualification ticket for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria subsequently had another opportunity to secure qualification through a playoff against South Africa but suffered another defeat, leaving the team with an alternative route to the tournament.
The NFF’s decision now brings an end to the current technical setup, led by Head Coach Justin Madugu and supported by his assistants and other backroom staff.
Madugu and Edwin Okon were appointed to the Super Falcons’ technical crew by the NFF in November 2021 as part of efforts to restructure the team’s coaching setup.
The latest development comes after a difficult period for Nigerian football, with the men’s national team, the Super Eagles, also missing out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The Super Eagles failed to secure automatic qualification after finishing second in their group before losing the African playoff final to DR Congo 4–3 on penalties following a 1–1 draw after extra time.
The NFF will now be expected to determine the next steps for the Super Falcons as the team seeks to rebuild and keep its World Cup hopes alive.
