Is Justin Madugu The Best Candidate For The Super Falcons On Interim or Full Time Basis?

Justin Madugu era begins!

The NFF announced indigenous Strategist, Planner and Tactician Justin Madugu as the interim manager of the Super Falcons following Randy Waldrum’s resignation.

This appointment has sparked debate among Super Falcons fans as to the suitability of Madugu for the role.

Some believe there's time for the NFF to appoint another high profile coach to take over.

When Randy Waldrum was unavailable between October and December 2023, Madugu (who has been his assistant) took over temporarily, overseeing 3 wins and 1 draw home and away against Ethiopia and Cape Verde, with 12 goals for and 2 against Nigeria in those games.

A section of fans point to these outcomes as positive indication of Madugu’s exciting and ruthless potentials if retained permanently. Another bevy highlight Cape Verde and Ethiopia has low level oppositions which any par-for-the-course coach would have won, hence the outcome of those games as a useful barometer of Madugu’s potentials is deceptive at best and useless at worse.

That said, for me, spending time as Waldrum’s assistant should have rubbed off Madugu favourably in the more tactical aspects of the game at this level.

I think he (Madugu) can tap onto the the American gaffer’s avuncular method to win respect from the players and channel their skills and passion to achieve tangible results and success.

Madugu is a CAF A and B licensed coach and has attended different coaching courses like NFF/CAF Football Coaching Course, Tiki Taka Football Development Course, National Football Coach Seminar, and Globacom Premier League International Seminar.

The 60 years old erstwhile assistant to Waldrum has worked for teams such as Flying Makwada FC Numan (Chief Coach), Makwada FC (Chief/ Head/Assistant Coach), Adamawa United FC (Technical Adviser), Makwada Warriors and Makwada Queens (Technical Adviser/ Team Manager), and FC Taraba (Technical Adviser).

I personally think fans should give him a chance to see what he can deliver with a team of hugely talented interweave of indigenous and dual nationality players.

But I harbour some doubts; also I hold sympathy and understanding for fans who believe the NFF should have replaced Waldrum with a coach with proven experience and pedigree at this stage. Such arguments are difficult to discount.