Fresh from a 3‑0 opening‑day victory against Tunisia, Super Falcons interim head coach, Justin Madugu insists Nigeria’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign is still “a work in progress,” promising there is far more to come from his side.
Nigeria sit atop Group B after goals from Asisat Oshoala, Rinsola Babajide, and Chinwendu Ihezuo secured their first WAFCON opening win since 2016. Yet Madugu was quick to temper the celebrations when speaking to during the post‑match press conference.
“Not Flattered by the Scoreline” – Coach Madugu
“Now, with regards to the game, we are not flattered by the scoreline. (0:06) We know what we set out to do. We have watched the game.”
Coach Madugu explained that the technical crew had already identified lapses despite the clean sheet and comfortable margin.
“We have noticed areas that we also know that we need to improve. So, it’s still a work in progress. Like I said, it’s the first match.”
Nerves of a First Match
Speaking on the rough edges that accompany tournament openers, the coach said his players will sharpen as the competition progresses.
“Naturally, you know, playing the first game, sometimes a lot of factors come into play. You don’t expect your team to be at their best playing from the first game.”
“Certainly, because you still have more games to play.”
Focus on Continuous Improvement
Nigeria’s immediate task is a Thursday clash with Botswana, followed by a group‑finale showdown against Algeria. Madugu underlined a simple trajectory: improve every time they step on the pitch.
“The expectation is that you hope to get better in every game up to the finals and then the last game of the tournament.”
Selection Headaches After Impact Subs
Madugu’s half‑time triple substitution, introducing Christy Ucheibe, Esther Okoronkwo, and Chinwendu Ihezuo injected fresh energy to the game, culminating in Ihezuo’s late goal.
Their strong appearance and contribution now pose selection dilemmas ahead of Botswana, particularly in attack where Oshoala and Okoronkwo are vying for the No. 9 role.
Group B Standings After Matchday 1
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nigeria | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 3 |
| 2 | Algeria | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 3 | Botswana | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | –1 | 0 |
| 4 | Tunisia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | –3 | 0 |
Victory over Botswana would guarantee Nigeria a quarter‑final berth and strengthen their pursuit of a historic 10th continental crown.
