WAFCON: Madugu explains Super Falcons’ rotation strategy

Super Falcons coach, Justin Madugu, has explained his squad rotation policy at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), saying effective player management will be crucial to sustaining Nigeria’s title defence.

Madugu said the Super Falcons could play six matches in the tournament and therefore need to keep their players physically and mentally prepared throughout the competition.

“It’s a long tournament,” Madugu told reporters.

“We are expecting to play six games and given the timing of matches in this competition, you really must know how to manage your players very well. We have the intention of making sure that we manage our players very well, so that we can sustain the performance of the team and not allow the selection of players to drop the standards.”

The coach pointed to Gift Monday’s patience as an example of the attitude his technical team expects from players who have had limited opportunities.

Madugu said the coaching staff had continued to communicate with players yet to feature prominently, ensuring they remained ready to step in whenever required.

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“We keep speaking with the ones that are not playing, just to get them ready, because anything can happen at any time,” he said.

“You must be in touch with everybody in the team, to make sure that at any stage in the course of the competition that they have to come in, they are ready, not just physically, but mentally and psychologically, so that you can get the best out of them.

“That we have been doing, and we know in the course of this competition, they will all have the opportunity to also showcase what they can also do for the team.”

Monday’s performance against Egypt has given Madugu another attacking option ahead of Sunday’s quarter-final against Cameroon.

The forward is competing for a place alongside Asisat Oshoala, Uchenna Kanu, Joy Omewa, Esther Okoronkwo, Chinwendu Ihezuo and Folashade Ijamilusi.

Madugu admitted that having several quality options had made selection decisions more difficult for the coaching staff.

“Having good players in the team is a good headache,” he said.

“But it’s not easy for us as coaches when you have a lot of players that are good. When you come to team selection, you have to go into a lot of details in trying to determine who does what.

“With the current crop of players that we have, we have to battle sometimes, argue, discuss, look at a lot of things before we finally decide on who comes in to play.”