Super Falcons head coach Justin Madugu has called for greater consistency and improvement from his team, even after they secured a confident 3-1 win over Ghana’s Black Queens in a closed-door friendly on Sunday evening in Casablanca, Footynaija.com reports.
Goals from Chinwendu Ihezuo, Asisat Oshoala, and captain Rasheedat Ajibade ensured Nigeria signed off their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) preparations with a statement victory.
The match, played at the Ziaida Palace Benslimane field, marked yet another win for Madugu, who has maintained an unbeaten run against African opposition since taking the reins.
But the experienced tactician insists the performance, while encouraging, leaves room for refinement.
“The match gave us the opportunity of having the full squad together to really assess our strength as a team, and build on team cohesion, coordination and on various combinations,” Madugu said after the game.
“It will always be work in progress, but we are very focused on our realisable and achievable target of Mission X. The girls are ready and are showing real hunger for victory and team spirit is high. We are looking forward to our first match on Sunday against Tunisia.”
Nigeria head into WAFCON 2024 ranked 36th in the world and as nine-time continental champions, determined to reclaim the crown they lost in 2022 after finishing fourth.
Madugu’s tenure has seen steady progress. He masterminded Nigeria’s qualification for both the Paris 2024 Olympics and WAFCON 2024, with convincing victories over Ethiopia, Cameroon and Cape Verde in the process. The team also posted credible results in international friendlies, including a 2-0 win over Cameroon in Yaoundé and a goalless draw against Portugal in Lisbon last week.
Reflecting on Sunday’s victory, Madugu maintained that the focus now shifts fully to their WAFCON opener.
“We will continue to work on our weak areas, and I believe that by the time of our first match, we will be ready,” he added.
The Falcons will begin their WAFCON campaign on Sunday against Tunisia. Madugu, a former assistant during Nigeria’s title-winning run in 2018, is now chasing history as head coach.