Super Falcons coach: More friendly games would’ve prepared us better for AWCON

Justine Madugu, Super Falcons head coach, said he “would have loved” to have more friendly games for the team in preparation for the forthcoming Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON). 

In a chat with TheCable on Wednesday, Madugu said more friendly games would have helped the Falcons “work on our combinations and team coordination”.

The 2025 WAFCON is billed to hold in Morocco from July 5 to 26.

In preparation for the tournament, the Super Falcons have played only three friendly games so far in 2025.

By contrast, Morocco played eight friendly games while South Africa, the defending champions, organised six preparatory matches during that period.

Speaking on the situation, Madugu said the Falcons “are okay” with the preparations they have had for the tournament.

He added that the team “cannot begin to make excuses at this stage,” and the players are focused on the task ahead.

“It is the desire of every coach that when you are preparing, you get the best out of your preparations,” the Falcons’ head coach said.

“We cannot begin to make excuses at this stage. We are very focused on what is ahead of us, and we are okay with the ones we have had, and we have seen a lot from the few games we have played and that is also helping us to prepare better for this tournament.

“Yes, we would have loved to have more games so that we could have more players, give others more opportunities and see what they can do. And also work on our combinations and team coordination but, like I said, we don’t want to start making excuses. Let’s be focused on what is before us.”

The Super Falcons will be hoping to win the competition for the 10th time.

The team is in group B alongside Tunisia, Botswana and Algeria.

Nigeria play their first game against Tunisia on Sunday by 5 pm.