₦airaland Forum

AkinDS:
@ BascoVanVeli also ...

1. Edna was on Randy's radar, but he resigned in Sept 2024. We had just finished the Olympics, so there was little or no opportunity to onboard her prior to the Olympics. Also, she had a hoo-hum 2023/2-24 season with Granada before the Olympics and Spain was not on the Radar.

2. Madugu had Four (4) friendlies in 2024 after the Olympics - two against Algeria (Oct 2024), one against France (Nov 2024) and one against Ghana (July 2025). Edna had a very good start to the 2024/2025 season and still had very strong desires to play for Nigeria. Madugu was aware of this (while being part of Randy's coaching staff) and opted to use some home based players for the 4 games, in addition to the FB players invited. Perfect opportunity to invite Edna, considering her very strong start to the 2024/2025 season with Granada, but he dropped the ball.

3. Again, he had an opportunity to fully engage Edna prior to the WAFCON, especially since he opted to drop Monday and considering Edna's very strong finish to the Granada 2024/2025 season. He opted to go for his HBs and brought on the Okafor girl, who didn't even see a single minute of action. Again, another fluffed opportunity. After the WAFCON, Bayern decided to sign Edna, on account of her brilliant performance in the concluded season. Spain's radar engaged. Edna was loaned back to Real Sociedad. Opportunity lost.

This is SOLELY on Madugu, as far as I am concerned.

Again you're letting your bias shape the narrative. Now you have at least reviewed the timeline downwards to 1 year instead of 2.

First, Randy also had opportunities to invite Edna to the team and he didn't. Remember Edna first came to light strongly in the 2022/2023 season when she had a great season scoring 10+ goals with a poor team. I believe it was also about that time she expressed her interest to play for the falcons and there were numerous opportunities for that to happen as we played the most friendlies at the time but it sadly didn't.

2. You can't seriously include the Algeria friendly as an opportunity for Edna to have been included. If I remember correctly this was during the period there were uncertainty as to who was coach of the Super Falcons. Randy was still contractually obligated till September and the NFF were I serious about reaching a decision. The November friendly with Algeria was out together last minute and to prove that 80% of the players that participated were either homebased or club shopping at the time. Only Ajibade, Nnadozie, Demehin and Monday Gift joined them. This was put together shabbily and in my opinion doesn't count.

3. The next real opportunity for him to have invited her in November against France in November. Much of the Olympics roster returned at this time, but in hindsight this was probably when the NFF insisted on the homebased quota to roster formation, something they tried to achieve with Randy during the Olympics but thankfully didn't succeed.

4. Most important to me is the fact that he mentioned he has reached out to her severally and she's been posting her. This could be as far as November last year, we wouldn't know. Except you know for certain that Edna was still open to playing for us as recent as June this year, there's no way to conclude attempts weren't made. She could have had a change of heart as far back as mid 2024, point is we aren't privy to any of this to make that judgement.

5. You know I don't think Madugu is the right coach for the Falcons and I right criticise if when due, I just do not think this is one of them.

This is not about bias...the facts are the facts.

1. As stated, she was on Randy's radar in 23/24 season, but she had hoo-hum stats (29 app, 5 goals, 0 assists) in comparison to other strikers, like Uchenna Kanu and Chiwendu Ihezuo who Randy opted to invite to prosecute the Olympics, and was correct in leaving her out to improve.

2. The Algeria game could have been a statement of intent on the part of Madugu. He never called her or let her know he was in her plans and offered to invite her for the France game. There was no contact. I also forgot to mention there was the game against Cameroon, played in Abeokuta, where players from the US and Europe were invited and came. No invite was extended to Edna.

3. If he was really serious about her, that was the perfect opportunity for him to have invited her. She was in good form at the beginning of the season and was posting numbers. This was the time to see how she would have performed against credible opposition and flying from Spain to France would have been easy and cost effective. Neither him nor the NFF bothered to call her. Instead, he took some scrubs from Nigeria to France (cost ineffective) and most of them sat on the bench. Wasted opportunity.

4. Reached out to her 'severally'? That is hogwash. Even if he did, it was way too late - he farfed around till that opportunity was blown. Spain had already taken up pole position. And no, she was still very much interested in playing for the Super Falcons at that time.

5. Whichever way you want to look at this, Madugu dropped the ball!

lovewins:
Again you're letting your bias shape the narrative. Now you have at least reviewed the timeline downwards to 1 year instead of 2.

First, Randy also had opportunities to invite Edna to the team and he didn't. Remember Edna first came to light strongly in the 2022/2023 season when she had a great season scoring 10+ goals with a poor team. I believe it was also about that time she expressed her interest to play for the falcons and there were numerous opportunities for that to happen as we played the most friendlies at the time but it sadly didn't.

2. You can't seriously include the Algeria friendly as an opportunity for Edna to have been included. If I remember correctly this was during the period there were uncertainty as to who was coach of the Super Falcons. Randy was still contractually obligated till September and the NFF were I serious about reaching a decision. The November friendly with Algeria was out together last minute and to prove that 80% of the players that participated were either homebased or club shopping at the time. Only Ajibade, Nnadozie, Demehin and Monday Gift joined them. This was put together shabbily and in my opinion doesn't count.

3. The next real opportunity for him to have invited her in November against France in November. Much of the Olympics roster returned at this time, but in hindsight this was probably when the NFF insisted on the homebased quota to roster formation, something they tried to achieve with Randy during the Olympics but thankfully didn't succeed.

4. Most important to me is the fact that he mentioned he has reached out to her severally and she's been posting her. This could be as far as November last year, we wouldn't know. Except you know for certain that Edna was still open to playing for us as recent as June this year, there's no way to conclude attempts weren't made. She could have had a change of heart as far back as mid 2024, point is we aren't privy to any of this to make that judgement.

5. You know I don't think Madugu is the right coach for the Falcons and I right criticise if when due, I just do not think this is one of them.

Agba Baller na big girl o. Seeing her Google Pixel advert for the first time!!!! Proud of all her achievements on and off the field.

lovewins:
There are other things to fault Magudu for, Edna's invitation in my opinion isn't one of them. I don't think it will be fair to put this chiefly on him. The NFF is primarily responsible for this, cause the onus was on them to see to it that a budding star like Edna at the very least played the required number if games necessary to wade off other offers that may come are way. They can as a policy decision do this for stars they believe would be potentially important the program irrespective of whatever a coach's decision may be and this only happens with a functioning technical department.

For example, if as a federation, they've identified that a player (in this case Edna) may play a key role, maybe not immediately but sometimes in the future, to the growth of the Super Falcons. The policy will be to invite the player and ensure the coach (irrespective of who they are) plays said player, even if for 5 minutes, the required number if game necessary to lock them in, so they can put eligibility to rest. Coaches may decide not to invite said players if they do not fit into their immediate plans once this is achieved.

This was how the Super Eagles lost out on Eberechi Eze by the way. We could have locked him in and the rest would have been history.

If for

Chioma Okafor is another case here..!!

Madugu funny sha.

Ghana Women's National Teams 🇬🇭 @GhanaWNT

MATCHDAY 2 ! C’mon Princesses!!

🇬🇭 vrs 🇳🇬

#StrongerTogether💪🏽 | #WAFUBGirlsCup
#ShineBlackPrincesses✨
#BringBackTheLove 🥰

https://x.com/GhanaWNT/status/1987052007526371749?

I strongly believed madugu didn't know who the hell is okafor , NFF must have told him to include her and also most homegrown coaches don't like sourcing for Foreign born players except they're are already a superstar ....

Deltamani:
Chioma Okafor is another case here..!!

Madugu funny sha.

Ghana Women's National Teams 🇬🇭 @GhanaWNT

⏰: 37’

Goal. Nigeria score from the spot!

🇬🇭 0:1🇳🇬

#StrongerTogether💪🏽 | #WAFUBGirlsCup
#ShineBlackPrincesses✨
#BringBackTheLove 🥰

https://x.com/GhanaWNT/status/1987092139168194645?

Watch the WAFU U20 tournament here

Ghana 🇬🇭 🆚 Nigeria 🇳🇬

https://www.youtube.com/live/d8AqISpa9VU?si=AH12LyjTELigNNcu

isan:
I strongly believed madugu didn't know who the hell is okafor , NFF must have told him to include her and also most homegrown coaches don't like sourcing for Foreign born players except they're are already a superstar ....

But truthfully Okafor is a big talent and I know very well that she would explode once she goes pro hopefully by January 2016!

The potentials are there to see, once you spot it that this player is gonna be a bomb in the nearest future, the best is to Cap 🧢 them down awaiting the future…

Falconets 2-0 Ghana
Janet with a brace

BascoVanVeli:
Falconets 2-0 Ghana
Janet with a brace

This Janet from Oshoala Academy is another big talent for the future…

I just hope her management team are making sure she gets the right and necessary help to hit the top level..

I really do love how well built she’s.. They need to work on her Physique though.

Deltamani:
This Janet from Oshoala Academy is another big talent for the future…

I just hope her management team are making sure she gets the right and necessary help to hit the top level..

I really do love how well built she’s.. They need to work on her Physique though.

That is one player I am particularly impressed with. She's shown significant improvement the last couple of years and I look forward to her having an illustrious career. If I am on her team, I'll be looking for a way to get her to play college football in the US. I agree with your take on her size, somewhat concerning, but not something that can't be worked on.

2-1 Ghana pull one back and we have goal cancelled. Can't be a Nigeria vs Ghana match without our goal ruled out.

BascoVanVeli:
2-1 Ghana pull one back and we have goal cancelled. Can't be a Nigeria vs Ghana match without our goal ruled out.

Any problem with Janet 3rd goal?

Ref must be a blind woman😂😂 or didn’t see it clearly.

Deltamani:
This Janet from Oshoala Academy is another big talent for the future…

I just hope her management team are making sure she gets the right and necessary help to hit the top level..

I really do love how well built she’s.. They need to work on her Physique though.

She's the best player in the country right now. In a perfect world she will leave after the U20 World Cup

Deltamani:
Any problem with Janet 3rd goal?

Ref must be a blind woman😂😂 or didn’t see it clearly.

I think the keeper had the ball in her gloves.

Golazoooooo!! Olympico by Favour Chiamaka
3-1 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

BascoVanVeli:
Golazoooooo!! Olympico by Favour Chiamaka
3-1 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Was that directly from the corner or via contact in the box?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKZI2YwvOcs?si=A3n8okLYkWus9c38

Falconets vs Ghana highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXCQf37xgaQ

lovewins:
Was that directly from the corner or via contact in the box?

Direct

Gift Monday scores with a beautiful header. Breaks the deadlock in her playoff debut 🔥

Bascovanveli2:
Gift Monday scores with a beautiful header. Breaks the deadlock in her playoff debut 🔥

The coach took out Kouassi and Monday and now Louisville has equalised.

Bascovanveli2:
The coach took out Kouassi and Monday and now Louisville has equalised.

He got away with it. Luckily Washington's goalkeeper is a penalty specialist.

Rasheedat Ajibade isn’t inform at all…

https://www.youtube.com/live/bgnKRTmZcLs?si=ifFEuPB5XZGICUcs

Ramotalahi Kareem opens the scoring for the Falconets 1-0 vs Benin 🇧🇯

Ramotalahi Kareem 🔥👀 She draws 1st blood for the Falconets against Benin. pic.twitter.com/BDerkXg701

— Naija Bias Football Channel ⚽ (@Naija_Bias_FC) November 9, 2025

Match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqHUAogoPcI?si=LZttyIYfeEt91XkP

Gift Monday vs Racing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrcWt6kDpI0?si=xKp8CZok3pYl1sUp

Chiamaka Nnadozie 🇳🇬 is Brighton & Hove Albion highest paid player followed by Ex- England International Midfielder Fran Kirby

She’s the second highest paid goalkeeper in the WSL behind Arsenal Daphne van Domselaar 🇳🇱 just a slight fraction difference though….

3rd Hannah Hampton 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
4th Phallon Tullis-Joyce 🇺🇸

Esther Okoronkwo Hattrick in first 27mins of first half.

AFC toronto up 3-0 with 61mins played now.

Esther absolutely balling out like the star she is.

TheSuperNerd:
Esther Okoronkwo Hattrick in first 27mins of first half.

AFC toronto up 3-0 with 61mins played now.

Esther absolutely balling out like the star she is.

This wraps up the player of the year conversation in my opinion. Chawinga could probably have remained in the conversation if she had won the NWSL title. Now that KC Current are out of contention and Esther has been having a fantastic playoff run with her team now in the final, she's undisputed in my opinion.