Super Falcons Interim Coach, Justin Madugu, optimistic about WAFCON 2024 Title win

By Asuquo

Posted on December 12, 2023

The Super Falcons of Nigeria trashed Cape Verde 5-0 in a 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations WAFCON qualification first-leg match. THE ATHLETIC NG reports. Uchenna Kanu and Esther Okoronkwo both scored twice plus one goal by Gift Monday to seal a 5-0 trashing of Cape Verde by Nigeria in the first leg of the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. The match was played on Thursday, November 30, 2023 at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja. To reach the final qualifying round, Nigeria walked over São Tomé and Príncipe while Cape Verde flourished in a 6-3 aggregate win over Liberia. Nine-time African champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria were near-perfect to take a convincing first-leg win In Abuja. US-based striker Uchenna Kanu scored the games opening goal in the seventh minute to set foundation for a big-win. Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie made a stunning save to deny Cape Verde an equalizer minutes later. The Coach Justin Madugu tutored Nigerian ladies were two-goals up when Tenerife forward, Gift Monday doubled the lead for the Falcons from a goal-mouth scramble in the 25th minute.. Nigeria dominated the encounter and got a deserved third when Uchenna Kanu finished off a pass from Sevilla midfielder, Toni Payne as the Falcons won 3-0 at the break. Esther Okoronkwo came on as a substitute in the 53rd minute, and got on the scoresheet soon after with a sublime finish from Akudo Ogbonna’s cross. Eleven minutes later, Esther Okoronkwo grabbed her second of the match as she pounced on Rofiat Imuran’s cross to make it 5-0 for Nigeria. It finished 5-0, Nigeria recording their biggest win in a competitive fixture since beating Equatorial Guinea 6-0 at the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2018. Cape Verde and Nigeria will meet again for the second leg on December 5, 2023 at the Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde in Praia. The aggregate winner of this match will qualify for the 2023 Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Interim Coach of Nigeria’s Super Falcons, Justin Madugu, has expressed unwavering optimism, the team can win the 2024 WAFCON title despite recent challenges.

Madugu, who assisted Randy Waldrum at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, emphasized the team’s determination to rectify the setback from the last Cup of Nations setback.

The Falcons, having secured qualification for WAFCON 2024, are set on proving that the loss to South Africa was a temporary lapse. Madugu stated, “Our target and focus is nothing other than going for the trophy in Morocco. We have to prove that what happened last time around was a mistake which we are ready to correct by winning back the trophy.”

Reflecting on the experience gained from the last WAFCON, Madugu highlighted the lessons learned and affirmed the team’s commitment to avoiding past errors. He acknowledged the challenges faced since taking charge as head coach but expressed gratitude for the collective efforts of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), players, and backroom staff.

In response to whether there is any particular team the Super Falcons fear in Africa, Madugu confidently asserted, “Super Falcons do not fear any team in Africa. Rather, other countries should dread us. We have not fallen to the level of dreading anybody. We have respect for every team, but Super Falcons will never dread anybody.”

Looking ahead, Madugu outlined the team’s broader goals, aiming not only to secure victory in WAFCON 2024 but also to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He emphasized that the success achieved so far is a collective effort and expressed confidence in the team’s journey, stating, “The aim is to qualify for the Olympic Games and win the 2024 WAFCON.”

With the Super Falcons under Madugu’s interim leadership, Nigerian football enthusiasts are hopeful for a triumphant return to the WAFCON stage and potentially securing a ticket to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.