Super Falcons new coach is expected before Nigeria resumes 2028 Olympic qualifying in October, following the team’s disappointing WAFCON campaign

The Super Falcons are expected to have a new technical team in place before Nigeria resumes its 2028 Women’s Olympic qualifying campaign against Comoros in October, National Sports Commission Director-General Bukola Olopade said on Monday, August 17, 2026.

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The planned change follows the Nigeria Football Federation’s decision to ask coach Justine Madugu and his technical team to step aside after Nigeria’s disappointing campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Nigeria endured a difficult tournament, suffering their earliest-ever WAFCON exit after a 1-0 quarter-final defeat by Cameroon.

The result also meant Nigeria missed out on automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Falcons’ hopes of reaching the World Cup were then ended by a 2-1 defeat to South Africa in the CAF play-off.

The NFF’s decision affected several members of Madugu’s backroom team, including former Super Falcons goalkeeper Ann Chiejine, goalkeeper coach Auwal Makwalla, Swedish video analyst Igor Krulj and fitness coach Per Karlsson.

With the technical structure now in transition, attention has quickly turned towards the Olympic qualifiers, giving the NFF limited time to settle on a new direction for one of Africa’s most successful women’s national teams.

Olopade said the NSC would work with the NFF to make the necessary adjustments before the qualifiers, stressing the importance of returning to the Olympics.

“The Olympics are around the corner, we will see how we can tweak the technical team of the Falcons like we did for the U-23, which coach Eric Chelle will handle. This is because we are desirous of qualifying for the Olympics,” Olopade said.

The Super Falcons returned to the women’s Olympic football tournament at Paris 2024 after a 16-year absence.

Nigeria’s return ended a lengthy wait, although the team was eliminated during the group stage after defeats by Brazil and Spain, with a victory over Japan completing their campaign.

The 2028 qualification campaign now offers an opportunity to rebuild after the setback in Morocco.

Nigeria will face Comoros in the next stage, with the island nation advancing after an emphatic 30-0 aggregate victory over Sudan.

Comoros won the first leg 17-0 on June 3 before completing the tie with a 13-0 victory five days later.

Although the scoreline underlines the gulf between the two sides on paper, Nigeria’s preparations will require a fresh technical approach following the WAFCON disappointment.

The appointment of a new coach will therefore be more than a routine change of personnel.

The NFF will need to find a coach capable of restoring confidence, maintaining the Falcons’ competitive identity and building a squad prepared to navigate the Olympic qualification process.

Nigeria have traditionally been a dominant force in African women’s football, winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 11 times.

The Falcons’ latest continental title came in 2018, before the competition’s expansion and changes to the qualification structure.

The immediate priority, however, is clear. The NFF must complete its technical restructuring and give the Falcons sufficient preparation time before the Olympic campaign resumes in October.

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For a team that only recently returned to the Olympics after a prolonged absence, qualification for Los Angeles 2028 would represent an important opportunity to establish greater continuity and restore momentum after a turbulent summer.