Nigeria’s head coach, Justin Madugu, was officially named Coach of the Tournament at the 2024 CAF TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after steering the Super Falcons to a historic 10th continental title in Morocco.
Re-appointed only months before the competition, the 61-year-old tactician quickly silenced sceptics by blending seasoned veterans with fresh talent and home-based players to create a tactically disciplined and unified squad.
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His leadership produced an unbeaten run at the finals, with the Falcons conceding just one goal across the entire tournament.
Madugu turned tactical challenges into triumphs—after a narrow semi-final win over defending champions South Africa, he masterminded a dramatic comeback against host nation Morocco in the final to seal the title.
His calm demeanour and strategic substitutions exemplified his man-management style and football intelligence.
Despite criticism over a sluggish 1‑0 win against Botswana in the group stage, Madugu remained steadfast, using that experience to refine his tactics en route to glory.
The mission was dubbed “Mission X”—Madugu’s vision to reclaim continental supremacy—and as coach of a squad that conceded just once and remained unbeaten, he delivered in emphatic fashion.
Madugu, a CAF‑licensed coach with academic credentials in sports psychology and management, brings a rare blend of tactical acumen, analytical strength, and developmental vision to the Super Falcons. His leadership not only secured glory in Morocco but also reinvigorated belief and unity within the squad.
With his first major tournament as head coach now crowned with a record 10th title, Madugu is expected to remain at the helm as Nigeria looks ahead to the 2026 WAFCON defence and the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
