My Nomination  Is Not For Me Alone But For Entire Country…. Coach Madugu

By Olayinka Elebute

It feels good to be given that kind of recognition and we Thank God for it and it’s not just for us it’s for our dear country Nigeria because the glory will not go to me alone but the entire country Nigeria I don’t know if any African coach has ever been nominated at that level for women it an honour for me and our dear country

Nigeria Super Falcons Coach Justin Madugu has been nominated for the Women’s Coach Ballon’dOr 2025 category, the coach who won the Nations Cup for the Super Falcons 10 times at the just concluded Women African Nations Cup in Morocco.

Speaking with Gongnews.net from his base in Yola, the coach who feels good about his recognition by the organiser of the awards said.

“It feels good to be given that kind of recognition and we Thank God for it and it is not just for me alone but for our dear country Nigeria” the coach Enthused.

Speaking further, the former Adamawa and Plateau United coach said and the Glory is not for him alone  but the entire country.

According to him “the glory is for Nigeria because the glory will not go to me alone but the entire country Nigeria, I don’t know if any African coach has ever been nominated at that level for women football it an honour for me and our dear country” the coach concluded.

The head coach, who was also  named Coach of the Tournament at the 2024 CAF TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco,

Before his appointment, Madugu has worked on two occasions  in an interim capacity, he was also assistant coach during Nigeria’s past three WAFCON appearances, winning the title under Edwin Okon in 2014, reclaiming it with Thomas Dennerby in 2018, and finishing fourth under Waldrum in 2022. The Nigeria Football Federation in 2024 gave  the job to the seasoned and homegrown coach and he never disappointed his employer winning the trophy for the tenth time.

Coach Madugu has held  technical roles at major international tournaments, the 2020 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago, the 2008 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Chile, and the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cups. While he also won gold for Nigeria at  2015 All Africa Games, the 2019 WAFU-B Women’s Cup title in is kitty as a National Team coach.