By our reporter 1-8-2025
Super Falcons coach Justine Magugu is N50 million richer and a proud owner of a three a three-bedroom bungalow after leading the Super Falcons to their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Rabat Morocco
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri showered the gifts on Madugu who had worked in the shadows of Nigeria football till he was entrusted with the national women team. He guided the Super Falcons to a famous win over the hosts in a thrilling final, in which the Super Falcons came from two goals down to win 3-2.
“Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, on behalf of the Government and people of Adamawa State, has gifted Justine Pwanidi Madugu (coach of Nigeria’s Super Falcons) a three-bedroom bungalow and a sum of N50m for leading the team into winning the 2024 Women African Cup of Nation that took place in Morocco this year,” said a statement by Adamawa State government.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier gifted the team players $100,000 each and team officials $50,000.
Despite all the odds in Rabat the Super Falcons rallied round to established themselves as the most dominate team in Africa.
Facing Jorge Vilda, who is fresh from lifting the FIFA Women’s World Cup with Spain, was a psychological and technical mountain but Madugu who was assistant coach when the Super Falcons won the title in 2018 never flinched.
“He’s a high-profile coach. For us to come here and get one over him? That’s commendable,” Madugu told Cafonline.
“But it wasn’t about him. We focused on the players. Morocco had the crowd, the momentum. Going 2-0 down in the first half? That was the biggest test.”
“We believed in ourselves. We knew we weren’t getting it right and had to switch tactics – move to Plan B. And it worked. The players’ mental resilience carried us.”
“We were thorough. We studied every Moroccan game. We looked at what we could exploit and how to neutralize their strengths. That’s what coaching is about – the fine margins.”