In a sensational climax to an already historic month for Nigerian women’s football, Super Falcons head coach Justin Madugu has been named among the nominees for the prestigious 2025 Ballon d’Or Women’s Team Coach of the Year award.
The announcement was made on Thursday by France Football, the renowned French publication that presents the Ballon d’Or awards.
Madugu’s nomination follows the Super Falcons’ triumphant campaign at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, where the team claimed a record-extending 10th continental title. Nigeria’s consistent dominance under Madugu has now been recognized on the global stage, with the 61-year-old tactician earning a place on a competitive five-man shortlist.
High-Profile Competition
Madugu will go head-to-head with some of the biggest names in women’s football management, including Chelsea’s Sonia Bompastor, who steered the Blues to a remarkable domestic treble—winning the Women’s Super League, FA Cup, and League Cup.
Also in contention is Arsenal manager Renee Slegers, who led the Gunners to UEFA Women’s Champions League glory, and Brazil Women’s head coach Arthur Elias, fresh off guiding his side to a successful title defence at the 2025 Copa América Femenina in Colombia.
Completing the elite shortlist is Sarina Wiegman, manager of England’s Lionesses, who added yet another feather to her cap by clinching the UEFA Women’s Euros title in Switzerland last month.
Paris Awaits
The winner will be revealed at the Ballon d’Or gala night on 22 September 2025, at the historic Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.
If Madugu claims the honor, he would become the first African coach to win the Ballon d’Or Women’s Team Coach of the Year, marking yet another milestone in a golden era for Nigerian women’s football.
