The Nigeria Football Federation has directed members of the Super Falcons’ technical crew to step down with immediate effect.

This follows a difficult 2026 campaign in which the team failed to secure an automatic ticket to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The NFF Executive Committee announced the decision in a brief notice on Monday, without stating a reason for the directive.

“The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has asked members of the technical crew of the @NGSuper_Falcons to step down with immediate effect,” the federation said.

PUNCH Online, however, reports that the decision comes after the Super Falcons endured a challenging Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign, where they began their Group C campaign with a defeat by Malawi, who were making their debut in the competition.

Malawi went on to reach the final, where they lost to Cameroon, who won the WAFCON title for the first time on Sunday.

Nigeria’s campaign ended in the quarter-finals after a defeat by Cameroon, denying the Super Falcons an automatic qualification ticket for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Super Falcons subsequently had another opportunity to secure their place at the World Cup through a playoff against South Africa but also lost that match.

The outcome leaves Nigeria facing another route in its bid to reach the World Cup, while the NFF has now ordered the technical crew to step down.

Meanwhile, the Super Falcons technical crew is led by Head Coach, Justin Madugu, supported by key assistants and backroom staff members.

In November 2021, the NFF appointed coaches Madugu and Edwin Okon as members of the technical crew of the Super Falcons, in line with a recent resolve to rejig the team’s technical crew.

Recall that their male counterpart, the Super Eagles, had also failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Nigeria missed out on automatic qualification after finishing second in their group and subsequently lost the African playoff final to DR Congo 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw following extra time. (The PUNCH)

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