As the Super Falcons prepare to defend their continental crown in Morocco, head coach Justine Madugu has delivered a clear message: Nigeria may be champions, but they are not yet a perfect team.
The Super Falcons boss believes continuous improvement, tactical refinement and maintaining squad unity will be crucial if Nigeria are to win an 11th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title and secure qualification for the next FIFA Women’s World Cup, one thing stands out from Madugu’s comments: success has not made the Super Falcons complacent.
Fresh from signing a two-year contract extension and receiving a nomination for the 2025 Ballon d’Or Johan Cruyff Award, Madugu has been reflecting on the lessons learned from Nigeria’s recent triumph. Despite leading the Super Falcons to WAFCON glory, the experienced coach insists the team still has important areas to develop.
“We are not a perfect team yet,” Madugu said in an interview with CAF Online.
“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 he declined to reveal the specific tactical adjustments being targeted by the coaching staff, his comments suggest Nigeria are approaching the tournament with a mindset focused on evolution rather than reputation. Nigeria will open their WAFCON 2026 campaign in Group C, with their first match scheduled against Malawi’s Scorchers on July 28 at Stade El Barid. As ten-time African champions, the Super Falcons enter the tournament as favourites, but Madugu has repeatedly warned that defending a title is often more difficult than winning it for the first time. That is why the coaching crew is treating every detail seriously, from tactical preparation to player conditioning and squad management.
One of the most revealing parts of Madugu’s interview was his account of the challenges Nigeria faced during the previous WAFCON campaign. According to the coach, the team had to navigate several distractions, including logistical difficulties and financial concerns, while trying to stay focused on the bigger objective.
“Challenges will always be there. There were a lot of distractions from different angles just to ensure that we lost focus, but we tried as much as possible to keep everybody focused,” he explained.
“Even when we got to Morocco, accommodation was an issue and there were financial matters, but we didn’t allow any of those things to distract us because we knew what we were there for.”
Those comments offer a glimpse into the resilience that helped the Super Falcons navigate pressure and emerge as champions.
Beyond tactics and preparation, Madugu believes the team spirit inside the camp was one of the biggest reasons Nigeria succeeded. He praised the relationship between the players, technical crew and backroom staff, describing it as a key foundation for the team’s success.
“The players remained focused, and the harmonious environment we created between the technical crew, backroom staff and players ensured that we did well,” he said.
In tournament football, where margins are often extremely small, that kind of unity can be just as important as tactical quality.
The Super Falcons are chasing more than another trophy a successful WAFCON campaign would reinforce Nigeria’s status as the dominant force in African women’s football while also securing a place at the next FIFA Women’s World Cup. With experienced stars, emerging talents and a coach determined to keep improving, the team enters the tournament with both confidence and caution.
Madugu’s message is simple: past success guarantees nothing. The Super Falcons must continue working, continue learning and continue evolving if they want to remain champions. Justine Madugu’s comments reveal a coach who understands that winning once is not enough, the Super Falcons already have the talent and history. What may ultimately determine whether they lift another WAFCON trophy is their willingness to improve the small details that separate champions from former champions. That mindset could be Nigeria’s greatest advantage heading into Morocco.
