Madugu Shrugs Off Criticism After Falcons Bounce Back Against Zambia

By Dorcas Francis Koji

Super Falcons head coach Justin Madugu says he remains focused on his team’s objectives despite criticism that followed Nigeria’s disappointing defeat to Malawi at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The Falcons’ opening loss to the tournament debutants sparked widespread debate over Madugu’s team selection, tactical approach and deployment of several players, with many supporters questioning the coach’s decisions.

However, the Nigerian tactician responded by making key adjustments for the team’s second Group C fixture against Zambia, restoring experienced stars Asisat Oshoala, Deborah Abiodun and Christy Ucheibe to the starting line-up.

Madugu also introduced Shukurat Oladipo from the bench after initially leaving her out of the starting XI, while Rofiat Imuran was handed a place in the lineup as the coach reshaped his side.

The tactical changes paid off as Oshoala scored the decisive goal in the eighth minute to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia. Nigeria produced a disciplined defensive display to preserve the lead despite playing with 10 players following Oluwatosin Demehin’s red card in the 40th minute.

Speaking after the victory, Madugu acknowledged that his side fell below expectations against Malawi but insisted the players learned valuable lessons that helped them deliver an improved performance against the Copper Queens.

“Sometimes football doesn’t go the way you expect. We made several mistakes in our first game, but we reviewed those errors, adjusted our approach and produced a much better performance in the next match,” he said.

The coach also addressed the criticism directed at him, describing it as part of the responsibility that comes with leading one of Africa’s biggest national teams.

“As a coach, criticism is something you must be prepared to handle because everyone has a different opinion about football. You cannot satisfy everybody. The important thing is to remain confident in your work, stay true to your philosophy and accept responsibility for whatever happens on the pitch,” Madugu added.

Madugu was appointed on a permanent basis by the Nigeria Football Federation in October last year after guiding the Super Falcons to their historic 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.

He will now be aiming to steer Nigeria to another successful title defence while also securing qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The coach’s achievements have also earned international recognition, having been nominated among the world’s top coaches in last year’s Ballon d’Or coaching category.