Super Falcons head coach Justin Madugu has hailed the determination of his players after Nigeria secured a crucial 1-0 win over Zambia in their second Group C game at WAFCON 2026, www.aclsports.com reports.
Asisat Oshoala scored her 15th WAFCON goal in the eighth minute at the Al Madina Stadium as the defending champions secured their first win of the tournament, keeping their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive despite being reduced to ten players.
The result was a welcome response to Nigeria’s opening defeat, with Madugu attributing the victory to his side’s resilience and desire to remain in contention.
“I think what made the difference was our determination to ensure that we picked the three points, knowing fully well the result of the last game,” Madugu said.
“We knew that other than a win, nothing would take us forward. That’s why we had to put in everything to make sure we got the win. I must appreciate the girls for the energy and effort they put in to keep the lead and eventually win the game.”
Madugu also praised the character shown by his players during the victory.
“It says a lot about this team. It’s a team with a lot of character. They never give up until the end. Even when things don’t go well, they keep fighting until the final whistle,” he said.
The Nigerian coach admitted lessons were learned from the previous defeat and revealed that tactical adjustments helped the team secure the much-needed result.
“Sometimes you have bad days and things don’t work for you. In the last game, so many things went wrong, we made mistakes, and we were punished for them. We learned from that game, prepared better, had a better game plan, and eventually got the result we wanted,” he stated.
Madugu also addressed criticism surrounding his tactical approach, insisting that coaches must remain committed to their philosophy while accepting responsibility when results do not go their way.
“Everyone sees football differently and has their own perspective. You have to believe in what you do and keep doing it. If it works, fine. If it doesn’t, you must be ready to take the blame because that’s the nature of the job.”
The coach highlighted the versatility of his squad after Nigeria were reduced to ten players when defender Oluwatosin Demehin was sent off, explaining how the team adapted without immediately resorting to substitutions.
“A few days ago, I spoke about having versatile players who can play in different positions. We already had Christy playing as a holding midfielder, but we know she can also play as a central defender,” Madugu explained.
“When the red card happened, the natural thing was to adjust within the team without making immediate substitutions. We didn’t want to sit back and invite pressure. We wanted to keep playing, keep believing, keep possession, and look for opportunities.”
Nigeria will face Egypt in their final Group C fixture on Wednesday, 5 August, as they seek to secure a place in the quarter-finals of WAFCON 2026.
