Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu has hinted that he could make a change in goal following Chiamaka Nnadozie’s costly error in Nigeria’s 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.
Nnadozie was at fault for Cameroon’s decisive goal, scored by Maeva Nyadjou in the 19th minute of the keenly contested encounter.
The Brighton goalkeeper failed to deal with Nyadjou’s free-kick, pushing the ball into her own net as the Indomitable Lionesses took a lead they held until the final whistle.
The defeat ended Nigeria’s hopes of claiming a record-extending 11th WAFCON title, and also denied the Super Falcons automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Madugu’s side will now turn their attention to Thursday’s play-in clash against South Africa’s Banyana Banyana. Victory over Desiree Ellis’ side would keep Nigeria’s World Cup hopes alive by securing a place in the inter-confederation playoffs.
Read Also:WAFCON 2026: Malawi Loss Behind Us, Focus Now On Zambia — Nnadozie
Nnadozie To Be Axed Against South Africa
Ahead of the crucial encounter, Madugu acknowledged that he could consider other goalkeeping options in his squad, raising the possibility of Nnadozie being replaced for the showdown with South Africa.
“It’s natural that when things like this happen, we have to do an overall assessment of the team,” Madugu was quoted by ESPN.
“what went wrong, what we did well, where did we get it wrong.
“We have to do an overall assessment and see what we can do in the shortest possible time before the next game against South Africa.
“There’s nothing bad in exploring other players.”
Ghana will take on Cote d’Ivoire in the other play-in encounter scheduled for Thursday.
By Adeboye Amosu
6 Comments
Nah now day dey break, Mr Madugu? SA coach had to switch from the previously reliable Andile Dlamini to Kaylin Swart by the 3rd game, when it was obvious from the first game that Andile had dipped in form, just like Nnadozie. They lost 1 and drew 1 in the game Andile manned the post, and won the last group game Swart manned to book them a place in the QF.
Now is Madugu mulling a change because he had read that it might be necessary, or cos of fans’ uproar and suggestions? Cos we saw he dropped Ijjamilusi after fans questioned her effectiveness up front, then he played Ucheibe and Payne when fans questioned their absence in the middle. I predict he may likely drop Okonronkwo in the game against SA, as many fans blamed her for that last-minute chance, and start Oshoala.
Are the fans the coach or Madugu? The picture of Nnadozie here in this story is not from this WAFCON tourney. This was when she was still slim and fit. Now she’s all bloated in the face and thighs and heavier than usual. Her reflexes dropped massively, and positional awareness was a disappointment. She used to shout instructions at her defenders that the camera mics often picked up. Now she just stays mute on the field, doing the bare minimum to stop a goal threat. Do they even have psychologists in that technical bench??
My fear how the experience level of Comfort and Fatima. I hope they’re really able to come to the party. If Nigeria pulls a win with them in goal, Nnadozie could lose her number 1 position, as it happened to Uzoho in SE.
I doubt Madugu will jettison Chiamaka Nnadozie in goal for rookie untested 2 other goalkeepers in the squad at this crucial pressured moment for the Super Falcon.
But still Nnadozie has been a let down for both the team and to her Nigerian fans throughout the tournament, starting with her poor positing and reaction time to incoming balls to her post in the opening group match against Malawi where she conceded a whopping 3 goals. Even poor Egyptian women beat her twice and atleast their 2nd goal was saveable by Nnadozie of last years fitness and standing.
Chiamaka is clearly overweight and need to shed some weight fast. it is affecting her agility and reaction time. The goal she conceded- more like gifted to Cameroon put her team in an anxious precarious, panicky position for 70minutes of the 90 regulation time, making the players very nervous, panicky and error-prone decision making- long balls and desperate goal scoring decision in the final third.
These are issues that would have been addressed in their preparations through various high grade friendlies where the other 2 goal keepers would have been tested in high profile match conditions to know who amongst them could confidently fit in a pressured match conditions.
However this is not the time for experimentation with a new goalkeeper or even untested players in the squad. The SA Banyana playoff match is must win, if Nigeria SF is to have any chance of going to Brazil 2027 WC- be it a long, complicated route. Nnadozie need some serious talking to and I am sure she is aware that she needs to get back to form and help her team back from the floor she has helped put them.
Chiamaka Nnadozie must remain in goal for Thursday 13th August play-off match against Banyana of SA. This is no time for trying a rookie keeper- that can wait for friendlies if SF navigate their way through the CAF playoff.
Both reserve keepers are below par, Fatima still has a long way to go, an 18 year old as we have been told and Adiku overlooked her for u20? And as for Comfort, she is a 2nd choice keeper at a relegated Portsmouth womens in a division 2 and in now division 3 in English womens league.
I doubt if Mr Madugu was expecting he will be in this desperate situation when he was selecting his squad.
I agree with you. This is no time for risky experimentation.
I doubt Madugu will jettison Chiamaka Nnadozie in goal for any of the rookie untested 2 other goalkeepers in the squad at this crucial pressured moment for the Super Falcon.
Nevertheless, Nnadozie has been a let down for both the team and to her Nigerian fans throughout the tournament, starting with her poor positing and reaction time to incoming balls to her post in the opening group match against Malawi where she conceded a whopping 3 goals. Even poor Egyptian women beat her twice and atleast their 2nd goal was saveable by Nnadozie of last years fitness and standing.
Chiamaka is clearly overweight and need to shed some weight fast. it is affecting her agility and reaction time. The goal she conceded- more like gifted to Cameroon put her team in an anxious precarious, panicky position for 70minutes of the 90 regulation time, making the players very nervous, panicky and error-prone decision making- long balls and desperate goal scoring decision in the final third.
These are issues that would have been addressed in their preparations through various high grade friendlies where the other 2 goal keepers would have been tested in high profile match conditions to know who amongst them could confidently fit in a pressured match conditions.
However this is not the time for experimentation with a new goalkeeper or even untested players in the squad. The SA Banyana playoff match is must win, if Nigeria SF is to have any chance of going to Brazil 2027 WC- be it a long, complicated route. Nnadozie need some serious talking to and I am sure she is aware that she needs to get back to form and help her team back from the floor she has helped put them.
Chiamaka Nnadozie must remain in goal for Thursday 13th August play-off match against Banyana of SA. This is a pressurised match that most needed the experienced Nnadozie in the SF goal.
It is not all about Chiamaka alone, she is still our most reliable goalkeeper for now, I said it in other forums that the Super Falcons will not go far this time around, we went to the tournament with an ageing team, Oshoala, Ordega, Ohale, Ngozi-Okobi OKobi have all done well for Nigeria and should no longer be part of the team, the coach has not upgraded himself, we play without rydym, as Mathematical Segun Odegbami said in an interview two days ago, Nigeria has reverted back to kick and follow football and as he said, Falcons couldn’t make 4 correct passes without losing the ball to their opponents. Changing the keeper is not the solution but rather Changing the strategy.
Very good observation. God bless you. You have hit the nail on the head; we don’t have a coach. We have been playing kick and follow system and this has drawn our football back. Please I want everybody to watch how Morocco, Malawi and Algeria teams have been playing. It shows pattern, good control of football, accurate passes and good football shot at goals. all this are missing in our Falcon team play and this can be trace to bad coaching system. I will not blame the coach but the uncoordinated, biased and completely incompetent NFF board of Gusau and Sanusi the secretary and until they are removed, I will continue to maintain that our football will continue to nose dive and deteriorate in standard. it is not a curse but what will definitely happen if Gusau is reappointed and it is even showing with the elimination of Flying Eagles, having been beaten by Burkina Faso twice by first 2-0 defeat in the group stages and 4-1 defeat in the final game. Now Nigeria has resorted to begging the CAF to allow us participate in the U20 AFCON in Ghana, what a Shame!!! to Nigeria football all trace to bad administration system and the culture of always celebrating mediocracy in Nigeria. One thing that is cleared to me is that all these shameful results will not cease if this administration is allowed to continue. Let us wait and see.