Super Falcons Interim Coach Justin Madugu Eyes Bigger Role for Home-Based Stars
“If you don’t give them the opportunity to play, there’s no way you can assess them.”
Super Falcons interim head coach, Justin Madugu, has expressed strong commitment to giving home-based players more chances to shine on the international stage, following Nigeria’s emphatic 4-1 win over Algeria in a recent friendly match.
The standout performance of Edo Queens’ forward Folasade Ijamilusi, who scored a brilliant hat-trick, was a clear testament to the untapped potential within Nigeria’s domestic league. Speaking after the match, Coach Madugu emphasized the importance of opening doors for locally-based talents, especially as the team builds towards future competitions.
“If you don’t give them the opportunity to play, there’s no way you can assess them,” Madugu told Brila.net.
In a bold move to explore squad depth, Madugu made five changes from the starting lineup that featured in the first-leg victory. Throughout the second leg, he continued to rotate the squad, bringing in several new faces to evaluate their readiness and capabilities.
“That’s why we made a lot of changes… we brought in some other players to see what they could bring to the table.”
Madugu’s strategy is more than just experimentation. It’s a calculated approach to broaden the national team’s talent pool and reward in-form local stars with meaningful game time. The coach acknowledged that the two-match series has revealed promising signs from several home-based players, who he believes can step up even against more formidable opponents.
“These two games have shown us the potential in many of these players. A number of them can be given the opportunity even when we’re playing tougher teams,” he noted.
Looking ahead, Madugu confirmed that upcoming Super Falcons camps will be a mix of both local and foreign-based players as Nigeria gears up for the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers. His inclusive selection policy could usher in a new era for the team, where merit and form—regardless of where a player plies their trade—dictate who gets the nod.
With the rise of stars like Ijamilusi and others from the domestic league, Madugu’s vision could be the catalyst needed to elevate Nigeria’s women’s football to greater heights. As the World Cup qualifiers loom, all eyes will be on how the homegrown talents rise to the occasion.
