Madugu ready for Falcons’ top job

Super Falcons interim coach, Justin Madugu, says he is ready to take the job permanently if the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) offers him the opportunity.

Madugu, who on Thursday led the Falcons to a 5-0 defeat of Cape Verde in the first leg of the last qualifying round for the Morocco 2024 Africa Women Cup of Nations, has steered the team to victories on all fronts in the absence of substantive coach, Randy Waldrum.

Madugu said coaching the Super Falcons would be a great honour for him, adding that he has the quality to lead the team back to the top of African women football.

“Nobody will be unhappy to work for the progress of the country in any capacity. I will do my best to lift the team if given the opportunity,” he said.

The situation of Waldrum is uncertain as neither the NFF nor the coach has come out to say if he is still manager of the Falcons.

The 67-year-old led the Super Falcons to the last 16 at the Women’s World Cup in August, but the American has been missing in action since their elimination at the hands of England in Brisbane.

According to BBC, the NFF issues with Waldrum’s ‘divided’ loyalty, as he combines the Nigerian job with working for the University of Pittsburgh.

A source at the NFF told BBC: “The coach appeared to prioritise his other commitments in the United States.”

“Managing a country like Nigeria should not be on a part-time basis.”

Waldrum had been expected to put in an appearance on the eve of the Olympic double-header against Ethiopia late last month, but it was Madugu who guided Nigeria to a 5-1 aggregate win over the East Africans.

Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business,