By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
The Nigerian authorities, the National Sports Commission (NSC) and its agency the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are yet to officially name a permanent replacement for the sacked Super Falcons’ coaching crew, roughly 30 days before the team’s 2028 Los Angeles Olympics African qualifying matches against Comoros away in Moroni.
The coaching crew led by Justine Madugu was dismissed following Nigeria’s disappointing outing at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco as the NFF asked Madugu and his entire backroom staff of Ann Chiejine, assistant coach and Auwal Bashir Makwalla, goalkeepers trainer as well as Video Analyst Igor Krulj and Fitness coach Per Karlsson to step down.
Still the fallout of Super Falcons’ disastrous outing and failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil led to the resignation of the entire Executive Committee Members of the federation led Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON) and General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi (MON) and the appointment of Emmanuel Ikpeme, Ph.D as acting scribe of the NFF.
However, with the Super Falcons’ next assignment being the responsibility of the NSC, the Director-General, Honourable Bukola Olopade has assured the public that a new technical crew would be put in place before the team resumes competitive play.
Although reports indicate that former coach Thomas Lennart Dennerby whose first stint with Super Falcons saw Nigeria easily qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and reached the Round of 16 in France and also won two continental and Sub-regional trophies WAFCON title and WAFU-B Cup in 2018 and 2019, has emerged as a top contender to return to the role, while other names like Florence Omagbemi have been heavily pushed by football stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the second-round qualifying ties for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics between Nigeria and Comoros will take place on October 9 and October 13, 2026 at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, with Nigeria as host of both legs of the encounter.
Comoros advanced to this stage to meet Nigeria after a massive 30-0 aggregate win over Sudan in the first round. Nigeria draw bye in the first round matches.
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