₦airaland Forum

That will never happen.
When you think Nigeria will throttle a team, that’s when they will labor to score a goal.

Schemerkhiz:
Then Nigeria have to beat Egypt 🇪🇬 10 – 0 at least

I have heard Ms. Ife's comments on the Smith Layi show and cannot but applaud her depth of knowledge wrt Nigerian women's football. She is always on point.
Clearly, the issue, as many of us have said ad-nauseum here is the incompetence of the coach. It was painfully obvious yesterday that the team lacked coaching and managerial leadership, as the man's strategic and tactical bereft-ness was fully on display.
The team needs and immediate change in direction, as we need to salvage what we can out of this campaign. This is no time for sentiments, as there is way too much at stake. This will be similar to what Cote D'Ivoire did when they won the AFCON on home soil.

SolaFide:
Post-Match Analysis- Nigeria 🇳🇬 2️⃣vs3️⃣Malawi

Goalkeeper
I have NO iota of blame for Amaka- she is the same WSL outstanding Goalkeeper with Brighton and Hove Albion and unarguably the BEST in the World. The formation, choice of players to execute, non-existent midfield and defence all exposed her. In a bid to make up for a collapsed defence, she was forgotten, her "safe haven" her 18-yard protection, and we all paid dearly for it.

Defence
There was nothing about the defence that shocked me; we already went with Isah of Israeli Division 2 ahead of Nicole Payne, who plays in the best Female Football League in the World. I still need an explanation for why Ogbonna, whom Randy retired 3 years ago, made this team when Madugu cannot trust her to stand in for Imuran. Once Plumptre was injured, it became a red flag that we needed two solid LBs, but Madugu chose a player he isn't confident in to stand in, overtly relying on Imuran until Karma caught up with him.

I have NO blame to put on Alozie for any reason - she is primarily a Right Winger whose game was modified to a Right Back. Michelle is upwardly Mobile and has no business being drafted into an unfair position, knowing that spot would receive maximum bashing. Naturally, gifted LBs would do better with the help of a Left Winger like Babajide.

I have made it clear Oladipo should be drafted to start filling in for Ohale, but "The Older The Better" thinks otherwise. Shukurat needed a seamless transition for such huge shoes, but the coach isn't bothered about a succession plan. Ohale has paid her dues; that's why I made a 3-5-2 formation to factor her in if the coach insisted on her experience, but it was always obvious we can't do a 4-woman defence with Ohale in a competitive game.

Midfield
Ayibde remains a trusted war horse, but it is crystal clear she can't Marshall the midfield without a double pivot to provide extra cover
Again, Madugu chose to expose her and played Ajibade in an unfamiliar position, a move we all saw did not work at the last WAFCON. The midfield was begging for Toni Payne, who was kept on the bench until the Malawians got their confidence against us. My Formation suggested we played and won from the midfield, but a tactically inept coach made sure the same midfield was complicit by his formation and choice of players.

Forwards
I lay every blame at Madugu’s feet because his choice of forwards at WAFCON2024 finals that ensured we conceded two goals, made Okoronkwo labour for balls by dropping deep, overworking her in the process, played out again.

Ihezuo, who hasn't played any game since a major injury, mysteriously got called up despite not being fit or in form and started ahead of Rinsola Babajide, who is in hot form from club antecedents and would have acted as a double shield for Alozie whilst helping Esther with remarkable passes into the dangerous areas.

I'm glad Ijamilusi whom some of you threw darts at me for was properly exposed by Madugu by handing her the Number 9 shirt. How did she merit a call-up from a league where we have no idea what happens? A player with questionable final third balls and who won't offer anything as a forward in competitive games. Nigerians saw ball to hand at last wafcon as validating her call and those tap-ins could have been scored by a grandmother. You see why I continually said she would have left China if her football has improved but a lot of people who talk about the game have no business having an opinion.
Realistically we took only 5 productive forwards to this WAFCON out of 9.

Salute to Uchenna Kanu whose work spoke for her ahead of WAFCON. From Hat-Tricks to breaking club and league records, it was crystal clear she was unfairly kept on the bench for an unfit and out of form player. The impact she made in less than 30minutes will make you question the competence of our entire technical crew for keeping such an high impact player on the bench. She scored a goal and had another cleared on the line.

Whatever happened last night was no surprise to some of us, what came as a surprise was how everyone suddenly started claiming they supported me and believed my analysis all of a sudden. So who are those noisemakers who were developing mouth diarrhea on my page?🙄

Football will disgrace you if you try to cut corners but reward you if you put in the work , that is exactly what we have seen with Madugu and his fellow racket players who has no iota of business being in a successful team like Super Falcons.
Madugu never learns anything from his outings because he has no business being a coach for starters.

Ifeoluwa leo olagbaye

Let's hope that will be enough.
Most people here have no clue about the damage that has been done.
This team got outplayed, outcoached and decisively defeated by a team ranked 153rd in the World.

This is surely the biggest shock in WAFCON football history.
Not only that, its the first time Nigeria will EVER concede 3 goals in a single WAFCON match.

This loss is a snapshot of the rot within Nigerian football.
The odds are stacked against Nigeria.

Unlimited22:
We are behind the girls all the way

They should just win on Saturday any which way.

How?
Those two Malawian sisters were having a field day running at the right side of our defence, with Oladipo and the ageing Ohale all game long.
The Chawingas took Ohale to school today, constantly leaving her in the dust.
Not to mention a massive thanks to Madugu's shortsightedness. He said he prefers older players, right?

TheSuperNerd:
That defence was solid in the first half. In the 2nd, they failed to grasp the first warning shot from Tabitha's offside goal. Lessons harshly learnt I hope

Nigeria is CLEARLY in a very precarious position.

If we don't beat Zambia and tie with them, even if we beat Egypt in the last game, it might not be enough for us to make it out of the group. Why?

If Zambia doesn't lose to both Nigeria and Malawi, they will have at least 5 points.
If Malawi dispatches Egypt (which they likely will), they will have 6 points.

Nigeria has no choice but to win BOTH its final two games against Zambia and Egypt to stand any chance of progressing. Any slippage (even a draw) means the maximum points we can have is 4, which will not be good enough to make it out of the group.

Not good!

Almost 3 zip!
Wow!

It took the coach all of 55 mins to figure out that Ihezuo wasn’t working and that Payne is light years better than Ijamilusi.

Kanu is on the bench. Ihezuo is the one playing.
Ijamilusi seems lost - constantly making the wrong decision.
You can tell more than half of the players are far from being match fit.

What is even more depressing is the Malawians have had the better scoring chances

ThePresenceWtf:
This game is depressing... The attack is non-existent.

[/b]Folashade [/b] is always on the ball but doesn't know what to do with it.

[/b]Uchenna Kanu[b] has gone missing, I can count how many times she's made a run or touched the ball in one hand.

[/b]Rashidat[b] has failed to connect the midfield to attack, she has been overshadowed. I don't even know where she's supposed to be playing.

After we move the ball past our defensive 3rd, We are just bereft of ideas. Everything has been a chaos so far! Smh

For the second leg, need to get a physically imposing person (similar to her), that would match her pace and ruggedness. Objective is to man mark and neutralize her.
The other 9 beninois players are average at best. This is a team we should be able to dispatch.

Schemerkhiz:
When I spoke about her here that she can hurt the Flamingoes you all didn’t take it seriously…

I would normally disregard your comments, as they portray your lack of informing yourself about the facts and just spewing off stuff that comes to your mind. Speaking of relevance to the thread...

Fact: Ordega's ONLY contribution was the 90 min cameo she played in the last group game (against Algeria, which ended 0-0) after Nigeria had already secured 6 points and guaranteed progression to the next round. She was not used or considered as a substitute candidate during the first 2 group games.

Fact: Ordega sustained her injury during a training incident just before the Semi final clash against South Africa. She was NOT considered as a substitute option against Zambia (even when we were 5 zip up) and was for all intents and purposes, training material and surplus to requirements.

Fact: your 'what-aboutism' fueled comments regarding Oshoala should be directed at the Coach, and not me, as only he knows the reason(s) and intelligence behind why he brought her back on the squad. Perhaps it was because she was having a great season with her Saudi club or perhaps she was still been revered on the continent. I would suggest you review her output prior to the WAFCON competition, as this might help you answer your own question.

Since you seem to struggle with the point I was trying to make - it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to continue to invite the likes of Ordega and in particular, Okobi, when you have exciting young and upcoming players who WILL be the face of the future for the SF.

Now is the time to start to blend the likes of Flourish Sebastian, Chioma Okafor (NC Courage), Nicole Payne, the young lady currently at Pitt (Celine Otta), Chioma Olise of Trabsunspor, or even the big U20 striker (Janet Akekoromowei) who got injured a few months ago, prior to her going overseas for a new club contract signing. These young ladies should be the focus for the SF, not those who are CLEARLY over the hill and way past their 'sell by' dates.

I stand by my initial comment that she was Inconsequential and Irrelevant to the team's success in winning the trophy. That is an undisputable fact!

do4luv14:
No bring that narrative abeg, what is her use to the team, if AkinOS ahbi what's the Monika again can question Ordega use in the team let's be fair and question what's Asisat own is,


Imagine Akin0S using the last AFCON and the lone game Ordega played as inconsequential, to discredit her use to the team, even after I pointed out the She was lumping to draw his attention to the fact that she gets injured during the first game


What was his response again

My agenda is very simple: let only the best, the very best, represent my country - no sentiments or compassion.
This is what every well meaning and passionate Nigerian will drive for.
If it means calling out weak minded and incompetent people whose actions will clearly lead to a derailment of that objective, then so be it!

Question for you is: what relevance has someone walking/limping with crotch got to do with the fact that she was INCONSEQUENTIAL to the winning of the trophy. She made the team weaker because she could not be useful to the team.
That clearly means that she was surplus to requirements then and needs to be discarded now.
Ditto that for Okobi. Both are irrelevant to the Super Falcons current and future objectives!

Other countries are serious about maintaining the pipeline of strong competitive players through refreshing with younger, more dynamic and competitive players. Yet we have a so-called coach who believes in 'older players'. Extremely dumb approach.

do4luv14:
I

This your Agenda will not mend walai e no go mend, much as I like her, I still can't lie to save her

Now tell me the truth be honest with yourself or forever hold your breath,

Who was injured and walking/limping with crotch on trophy's presentation

2024 WAFCON - Franny Ordega:

Nigeria vs. Algeria - 90 mins.
Nigeria vs. Tunisia - 0 mins
Nigeria vs Botswana - 0 mins
Nigeria vs. Zambia - 0 mins
Nigeria vs. South Africa - 0 mins
Nigeria vs. Morocco - 0 mins.

Now, ask yourself...At her age, Is this someone who is relevant to the future of this team? Considering the fact that Randy dropped both herself and Onome from the Olympic team in 2024, for wanting to go with younger players??

Also, isn't it time for the coach, in his 'infinite' wisdom (or lack thereof), to start to embed Flourish Sebastien into the squad?
Considering the fact that the next WC and Olympics are just around the corner, isn't this the time to refresh the team with faster and more prospective players, than go with players that have all but outlived their usefulness to the SF?

do4luv14:
Super imposing Ordega, bia coman explain, was she part of last AFCON where she got injured

This would have been hilarious if it weren't true.
That was his excuse for superimposing the likes of Ordega and of all people, Okobi (someone who has played less than 30 competitive minutes over the past year!!).

FiveFootNinja:
The same Madugu that said "the older the better"? Lmao. Why do you think people like Ngozi Okobi and Francesca Ordega are still in the team despite people clamoring for new legs?

No worry. E go clear for una eye very soon.

Those NFF people are completely clueless.
They fail to plan and plan to fail, with their 'rinse and repeat' approach to everything, because they lack the intellectual capacity to think progressively.

Schemerkhiz:
I’m calm, but again more than 85% of the players to execute the WAFCON are already in Nigeria 🇳🇬 so why not now…!😳

Who is supposed to ‘go after her’?
The current NFF is bloody useless and the coach is an extension of that cabal.

Schemerkhiz:
Is Thirsa Nwabuogor De Meester 19yrs Winger a talent Nigeria 🇳🇬 Should consider snapping up from Belgium 🇧🇪??

She’s already at the U23 level with Belgium and recently signed with SD Eibar in Spain..

Known for her speed, verticality, and ability to break through defenses in the final third


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86fiyS6DfWk?feature=shared

How and What exactly did say or do to the team at half time that changed the tide?

Till this day, not a single one of the players has come out to say how he inspired them, strategically or tactically?

But I have heard a player state that nothing was said to them at half time and that the players took it upon themselves to close up the spaces between them and the Moroccans, which gave them less time on the ball.

Coached? Puhlease!

AndSunGorilla:
Like losing to Morocco? Someone coached a team to come from 2 goals down to beat the hosts!!!

Tic-tok, tic-tok....
Waiting on the 'Madugian' acolytes here to come up with another defense of this clueless joke of a coach.
What a disgraceful performance from the reigning African champs....

Darn!
That looks like a fractured ankle. May actually be worse than Janet’s injury.
Really feel sorry for Ihezuo, especially now that she had started to make her mark. This is a big blow to the Falcons campaign for a WC spot.

Wishing her blessed healing and an expedited recovery 🙏🏾

BascoVanVeli:
Chiwendu Ihezou suffered the same type of injury Janet had
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWMqrZ5j8bP/?igsh=MXVjdThkZWs3YnpleQ==

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqOVB9VDmmY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIQyJa6cR_A

You Magudu acolytes are trying way too hard when the truth is staring you in the face.
When SA beat Morocco in the previous WAFCON final, who won the CAF coach of the year Award?
Need I remind you it was Desire Ellis, and not the Morocco coach or some other person who no one ever heard about.
But, in Magudu’s case, it was conveniently rigged.
Nice try !

isan:
You've run out of ideas to discredit magudu and you're bringing CAF awards I guess it's the girls that substituted themselves on when the team was 2-0 down

Hmmm, I wonder who won the WAFCON Player of the Tournament? It surely wasn’t Chebak, was it??
Nice try.

mostob:
It's ridiculous. Very ridiculous.
The fact that he had to bring in that CAF award agenda especially when a 2-year old can easily decode the award was rigged in Morocco's favour. Nigeria easily had top 2 best players in that tourney but CAF still gave the award to Cheebak.

With all due respect, a contrary argument can also be made to buttress the fact that the Madugu guy is sub-optimal for the Falcons.
It would have been atrocious IF he had failed in progressing to the semi's of the WAFCON with a squad pretty much build by Randy, especially with him (Madugu) being a part of the coaching staff. Even you or I could have done that - so no great feat on his part!

It speaks volumes that in the history of the CAF awards, never has a coach of a Women's national team not won the CAF coach of the year award, yet he failed to win in, especially when you consider the importance of the accomplishment and the circumstances and manner under which the team won the final. Yet, the award was given to someone who didn't even win any trophy on the continent. Could it be because the technical committee who rates these coaches figured out that he provided little or no inputs to the success of the team? Go figure!

Finally, your comments were uncalled for. I have never been close to any player (never met them personally or professionally and quite frankly, don't care to have any association with them). I care deeply about our national teams and believe very strongly that our Super Falcons CAN win the World Cup if we 'get it right'. 'Getting it right means: bringing in the right players at the right time , and not embarking on a hit or miss expedition. The margins are tight - there is little or no time to land the best players both in diaspora and at home. Unfortunately, the way and manner of the call ups demonstrates that Magudu is way over his head in this.

isan:
Enough of this this rubbish already ....Madugu won the AFCON and you have to deal with it ...if Nigeria lose the final to Morocco will it be the girls fault? ....most of you guys are close with the falcons camp and you guys works as agent for some mediocre players to get them into falcons , once you can't influence the coach you stir people emotion to get him sacked ....I still remember when you're boasting babajide will never play for falcons

No, but you'll also never see the likes of the US, France, Germany, Brazil or England losing, and yes, to a rag-tag team like this Cameroonian side, which is equivalent to Nigeria's full squad losing to the lowest Nigerian NWFL team. That's how bad it looks and its nothing short of scandalous!
Enough with all the excuses: 'they strung passes together, they didn't play too badly, etc.' - bottom line is: They LOST! That is what will be recorded in the books.

For me, this is a new low for our Super Falcons...

Super Falcons Last 3 games:
Oct 24, 2025 - Won 2-0 against Benin
Oct 28, 2025 - Drew 1-1 against Benin
Feb 28, 2026 - LOST 0-1 against Cameroon (Team B)
**All three games were prosecuted with Nigeria playing at full strenght!
- Notice the trend?

Regarding Rash, if you look through my posts regarding her play, you would observe that I have not been a fan of hers. So, I have hardly been impressed with her overall play, so nothing new with her performance today.

isan:
Is there a football team that win every matches? You all are criticizing the team like they lost WAFCON final ...rag tag or not its still Cameroon and they have a name in women's football....also it's not like the team play badly...they string passes together and create clear cut chances rasheedat was particularly wasteful she even missed an open net but you never criticize her ......

This Cameroonian team was made up of Home based players from their local league (which is not even in the same class as Nigeria's).
Nigeria had most of their best players.

In previous games, both teams played their best squads, unlike today. So yes, this was a rag-tag Cameroonian team.

BascoVanVeli:
Rag tag this ragtag that. Did we destroy Cameroon when we faced them the last 5 times in the past 3 years?

My third paragraph points the finger at the coach's poor game management, as well as him not making a timely substitution for the injured Ogbonna.

BascoVanVeli:
So we are blaming an injured player instead of her teammates who should have figured out a way to hold fort while she was out?

I expected these names from u guys anyways. I noticed u didn't say anything about Shukurat and Sikiratu who actually gave up big chances.

Honestly for me it was an okay performance. The girls had enough chances to win comfortably.

What I find befuddling is the defeatist mentality of some of Nigerians...

It means nothing? Seriously?
It has no effect on your FIFA rankings - being beaten by a rag-tag Cameroonian team? It doesn't impact your aura as the best team in Africa when you cannot easily dispatch a team like this?

Do you think the poor performance of the Super Eagles against the likes of Lesotho, Benin and other hitherto minnow countries was happenstance? Its was a direct result and a slow drip and erosion of that aura of invisibility the SE had in coming second during the Nations cup. You did notice that CIV did not experience this - why?, because they know the importance of beating up on the so called minnow which made their qualification relatively easy.

That's why certain countries never joke around with teams like this rag-tag Cameroonian team - they destroy them so as to send a strong message. But folks like yourself think it 'means nothing and it's just a friendly for experiment'. Think again, pal. !

isan:
It means nothing it's just a friendly for experiment..... winning that match doesn't mean anything for Nigeria

Believe, when there are tell tale signs you are about to face a headwind?

Look at the performance trajectory of this team since WAFCON...

Some of us argued that the 'Mission X' win was pretty much due to the ladies sheer 'will and desire' to win the trophy and not because of any significant input of the coach. Well, looking at the performance of their games post-WAFCON is an indication of what to expect.
The warped desire of the coach to move backwards (bringing in players that offer little or no value to the team - Okobi, Ogbonna, Onyenezide) instead of focusing on the future, is a HUGE problem with this coach.
He could have utilized the momentum of WAFCON to reinforce this team with the singular objective of becoming a world class team, instead of pandering to the old guard who offer nothing of value to the future SF.

semid4lyfe:
I am default believer in our National teams, especially the Super Falcons.

If disappoint comes along the way, I take it in my stride and look forward to the next one.

#Believe.

I suspected it was her but was unsure.
Liked her confidence and the way she played (touches, off the ball movements and speed). She is one to keep on the squad for me.

We need better midfielders to compliment the crew we have. Certainly, no need for mediocre players like of Okobi (over the hill), Onyenezide (poor overall performance). There are quite a few much better players who will help take the SF to that next level we need to be.

Schemerkhiz:
That’s Christopher Precious playing for Yanga Princess in Tanzania 🇹🇿

Her call up was pretty okay as a Left Footed Midfielder and better than the other midfielders.

Sorry, who is your second choice

I would argue that she is #2, as I don't see any of the big butted women that Madugu has been inviting that are better than Comfort.
She had a nervy start (her first ever international) and would have had a clean sheet, save for the bone headed decision by Magudu not to make a timely substitution for the sub-par Ogbonna, and opted to play 1 woman down.

She had a very good game overall - her command of the 18 was solid, her ground game (footwork) was great and she definitely looked and played like she belonged.

Schemerkhiz:
3rd choice at best right now….!!

Well, Well.
A rag-tag Cameroonian team just beat our SF 1-0, scoring in the 89th minute.
Glory Ogbonna (who knows why she was brought back into the team after her wilderness) was out injured and our wise man of a coach decided to continue the game with 10 players, enabling the Rag-tag Cameroonians to score.

There were a lot of players that had no business playing, including Okobi (#13, who was poor all game long), Glory Ogbonna (#4, whose left back position was a constant point of attack because she clearly was the weakest link in defense), and Onyenezide (#8, who came in as a sub and was nothing short of being a passenger on the field).

I feel bad for Erharbor, who was on track to have a clean sheet, save for the very poor game management on the part of Madugu (playing 1 woman down and was clueless about utilizing his bench).

Notable pluses:
Comfort Erharbor (#1) - after a nervous start, looked assured and played the part. For someone playing her first international match, very pleased with her performance.
Don't know her name yet (#21) - still trying to find out who the left footed, red boned midfielder who came in later on in the second half is. She fit in like a glove and played with extreme confidence in the midfield. Even though she was a sub, she definitely was miles better than Okobi, who constantly turned the ball over and was a weak link in the midfield.

Yep!
She has always played for the Canadians.
The person who might still be worth pursuing is Ayo Oke of Denver Summit.

Also, not sure why Rofiat Imuran is still being overlooked?

lovewins:
Simi is Canadian and has been a capped since 2022. I remember first noticing her in 2022 when she was teammates with Nicole at USC, but soon realised she already pledged allegiance to Canada.