Super Falcons head coach Justin Madugu says Nigeria are fully aware of the permutations required to secure qualification for the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, sports247 reports.
Madugu spoke with confidence despite the pressure surrounding their final Group C fixture against Egypt.
Madugu spoke at the pre-match press conference in Rabat on Tuesday ahead of Nigeria’s crucial encounter with Egypt.
The coach stressed that the Falcons understand what is at stake and are prepared to approach the game with maximum seriousness.
Nigeria need a positive result against Egypt to strengthen their chances of progressing to the knockout stage after a difficult start to their campaign.
“We have our calculators; we understand the permutations that will qualify us,” Madugu said, underlining the team’s awareness of the different qualification scenarios.
The coach acknowledged that the situation has created pressure but insisted that the Falcons remain focused on controlling what they can influence — their own performance against Egypt.
“Tomorrow is another big challenge. I think it’s even more important than the first and second games we played. We already know what’s at stake. We know the importance of the game, and we’re going into it with all seriousness.”
Madugu also revealed that the technical crew faces difficult decisions when selecting the starting team because of the quality available within the squad.
“Having good players in the team is a good headache. It’s not easy for us as coaches when you have a lot of good players,” he explained.
According to the coach, team selection involves detailed analysis to determine the roles and responsibilities of individual players before a final decision is made.
He further expressed confidence in the squad’s mood ahead of the decisive encounter, saying the players are in high spirits and working towards securing the result that will take Nigeria into the next stage.
“The team is in high spirits, and we’ll be getting ready for the next game. We all know what is at stake and we’re doing our best to ensure that we get the right result that will really take us to the next stage of the competition,” Madugu added.
With qualification hanging in the balance, the Super Falcons will now have to turn their calculations into action when they face Egypt in Rabat.
