Award-winning sports broadcaster and CAF-accredited sports analyst, Joseph Atewe, has called for the removal of Super Falcons head coach Justin Madugu, blaming his tactical decisions and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)’s inadequate preparation for Nigeria’s disappointing exit from the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
Atewe made the call on Monday while appearing on First Touch, a sports programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, following the Super Falcons’ quarter-final defeat to Cameroon.
Nigeria, the defending champions, were eliminated after Cameroon secured a 1–0 victory in Casablanca, with Myriam Maéva Nyadjou scoring the decisive goal in the 19th minute with a long-range effort that beat goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.
The result ended Nigeria’s bid to retain the continental title and sent Cameroon into the semi-finals. The victory also secured Cameroon’s qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Nigeria will now face South Africa on Thursday in a crucial fixture for a place in the inter-confederation World Cup play-offs.
Atewe said the defeat was symptomatic of problems that had existed within the Super Falcons long before the quarter-final against Cameroon.
He took particular exception to Madugu’s tactical approach, questioning his decision to leave experienced players on the bench for extended periods while Nigeria was trailing and desperately needed an equaliser.
He argued that the coach should have been more aggressive with his substitutions as the match entered its final stages.
“I cannot be one-nil down, looking for a goal. I have players on the bench, knowing that after 90 minutes, it’s all over, I will take my chances.”
Atewe subsequently called for Madugu’s removal, arguing that a change in the technical leadership was necessary if the Super Falcons were to make meaningful progress.
“First, Justin Madugu has to go if he wants anything meaningful to come out of the Super Falcons.”
He also questioned whether some of the success enjoyed by the team under Madugu should be attributed to the foundation laid by former coach Randy Waldrum, who guided Nigeria to the 2024 WAFCON title.
Atewe further criticised the decision-making during the Cameroon match, pointing to the presence of experienced players on the bench while Nigeria struggled to find a way back into the game.
The analyst, however, said blaming Madugu alone would provide only a partial explanation for Nigeria’s failure.
According to him, the NFF also bears responsibility, particularly for what he described as inadequate preparation for a national team competing at the highest level of African women’s football.
He argued that Nigeria should have entered the tournament with a stronger programme of quality international friendly matches and better preparation.
Atewe said the weaknesses currently being exposed were already visible during Nigeria’s previous WAFCON campaign, despite the team’s eventual triumph.
He recalled the 2024 final against Morocco, when the Super Falcons recovered from a two-goal deficit to win the championship, arguing that the dramatic comeback may have concealed underlying tactical and structural weaknesses.
According to him, individual brilliance and the determination of the players played a significant role in that victory and should not be mistaken for evidence that all aspects of the team’s preparation and tactical organisation were functioning properly.
Looking beyond the Super Falcons, Atewe said the challenges confronting Nigerian football extend to the broader football administration system.
He cautioned against simply removing everyone within the NFF whenever a national team records a poor result.
“I do not think total overhaul is the initiative. I think that there should be some changes.”
He argued that the NFF, the National Sports Commission and other relevant stakeholders should identify specific weaknesses and address them through long-term reforms.
Atewe cited Morocco as an example of how sustained investment and strategic planning can transform football.
He pointed to the North African country’s long-term football development strategy, particularly its investment in youth development, infrastructure and domestic football.
Morocco’s emergence as the first African country to reach the FIFA World Cup semi-finals, he argued, was not accidental but the product of deliberate planning and sustained investment.
He urged Nigeria to adopt a similar long-term approach rather than relying largely on the natural talent of its players.
Atewe also identified age manipulation as one of the fundamental problems undermining Nigeria’s football development.
He called for stronger age verification mechanisms, particularly in youth competitions, arguing that young players should be allowed to compete in their appropriate age categories and given time to develop.
He linked the problem partly to poverty and the enormous pressure placed on young footballers who view the sport as a possible route out of hardship.
According to him, Nigeria needs a structured pathway through which players can progress from youth football to the senior national teams without manipulating their ages.
He also called for greater investment in domestic player development, noting that Nigeria increasingly depends on players who develop their careers abroad.
Atewe’s concerns came against the backdrop of another disappointing result in Nigeria’s youth football system.
The Flying Eagles suffered a heavy 4–1 defeat to Burkina Faso’s Young Stallions in the final of the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-20 Championship in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.
The defeat means Nigeria will miss the 2027 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations and consequently the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Azerbaijan.
For Atewe, the result reinforces the argument that Nigeria’s football challenges cannot be solved solely through changes to senior national-team coaches.
The analyst also called for a major commercial transformation of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
He said the domestic league requires better pitches, improved facilities, regular television coverage and stronger commercial partnerships to attract serious investment.
According to him, sponsors are unlikely to commit substantial resources to a competition that lacks adequate infrastructure and consistent television exposure.
He also identified the financial difficulties confronting clubs and continued government ownership of several teams as challenges that need to be addressed.
Atewe argued that increased television coverage would improve the league’s visibility, attract sponsors and create new revenue opportunities for clubs.
He maintained that prize money alone would not transform the NPFL without simultaneous improvements in facilities, broadcasting and commercialisation.
The discussion also examined the potential role of former Nigerian internationals in football administration.
The presenters referenced former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel, who has publicly criticised aspects of Nigerian football administration, alongside other former internationals including Kanu Nwankwo and Ahmed Musa.
Atewe acknowledged that former players could contribute valuable experience to football administration but argued that the existing system and government influence could limit their effectiveness.
He also connected the relatively short careers of some former Nigerian internationals to the wider problem of age manipulation in the country’s youth football system.
He contrasted this with the longevity of some international football stars, arguing that credible age certification and proper youth development would give Nigerian players a better opportunity to build longer professional careers.
For Atewe, the Super Falcons’ WAFCON elimination should therefore be treated as a warning rather than an isolated disappointment.
He argued that Nigeria’s football development requires a comprehensive strategy encompassing better national-team preparation, stronger youth development, credible age verification, improved domestic competitions, modern infrastructure, commercial investment and targeted reforms within football administration.
The immediate challenge, however, is the Super Falcons’ next assignment against South Africa.
With Nigeria’s World Cup qualification hopes now tied to the play-off route, Atewe’s call for urgent changes comes at a critical moment for the women’s national team and Nigerian football generally.
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