The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has terminated the contract of Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu and his technical staff following the team's failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. This decision is effective immediately and comes after Nigeria's loss to South Africa, marking the end of the nation's unbroken streak of appearances in every Women’s World Cup since the tournament's inception in 1991.

NFF's Official Statement

On Monday, 17 August 2026, the NFF announced that its executive committee had instructed the entire technical crew of the Super Falcons to resign. “The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has asked members of the technical crew of the Super Falcons to step down with immediate effect,” the federation stated in a message posted on X.

This decision follows a disappointing performance in the continental play-off against South Africa, which occurred just four days after the Super Falcons were eliminated by Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. That earlier defeat had already dashed Nigeria's hopes of automatic qualification for the World Cup.

Madugu's Tenure and Criticism

Madugu's tenure had come under scrutiny due to the team's lackluster performances and questionable tactics during the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. Despite entering the tournament with high hopes after securing a record 10th African title the previous year, the Falcons struggled significantly. They began their campaign with an unexpected 3-2 loss to Malawi, managed to defeat Zambia 1-0 and Egypt 6-2, but ultimately fell to Cameroon, eliminating them from title contention and World Cup qualification.

After this series of setbacks, the Super Falcons were given a final chance through the play-off against South Africa but were unable to capitalize on it. Madugu, who is 62 years old, departs from his role less than a year after leading Nigeria to its 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations victory, highlighting the swift shift in expectations following the team's recent failures.

NFF's Next Steps

In light of the disappointing outcomes, the NFF has initiated a six-member fact-finding committee to investigate the reasons behind the Super Falcons' failure to qualify for the World Cup. This move reflects the federation's commitment to addressing the issues that led to this historic setback for Nigerian women's football.