Super Falcons head coach Justin Madugu has played down suggestions of tension between Esther Okoronkwo and Asisat Oshoala following Nigeria’s painful 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in the quarter-final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
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Sports247 reports that the incident occurred in the closing stages of the encounter when Okoronkwo found herself with an opportunity to influence the game but opted not to pass to Oshoala, who appeared to be in a better position to finish. The opportunity ultimately went begging as Nigeria failed to find an equaliser before the final whistle.
The moment quickly attracted attention, with questions raised about the decision and whether there was any frustration between the two Nigerian forwards.
However, speaking after the match, Madugu insisted there was no problem between the players and maintained that the relationship within the Super Falcons squad remained strong despite the disappointing result.
“Thank you. There is no problem within the girls. They are on the same page with good relationship,” Madugu said when asked about the situation.
The coach described the incident as part of the unpredictable nature of football, refusing to allow one missed opportunity to create unnecessary controversy within the squad.
“It happens in the game and that’s part of the game too,” he added.
Nigeria’s quarter-final exit came as a major disappointment after the Super Falcons had recovered strongly from their opening-day defeat to Malawi.
The nine-time African champions responded with victories over Zambia and Egypt to progress to the knockout stage, including an emphatic 6-2 win over Egypt.
However, their campaign came to an abrupt end against Cameroon, who secured a narrow victory to advance to the semi-finals.
For Madugu, the immediate priority will be to reflect on the defeat and the lessons from the tournament rather than allow individual incidents to overshadow the team’s overall efforts.
The coach’s comments also underline the importance of maintaining unity within the squad, particularly after a difficult elimination. With Nigeria’s next competitive challenges ahead, the Super Falcons will now look to rebuild and learn from their WAFCON experience.
While Okoronkwo’s late decision will inevitably remain a talking point among supporters, Madugu’s message is clear: there is no rift between the forwards, and the incident should be viewed as one of those moments that can happen during the intensity of a football match.
