Madugu, Ajibade Confident As Nigeria Target Winning Start Against Malawi

Nigeria head coach Justin Madugu and captain Rasheedat Ajibade have expressed confidence in the team’s readiness ahead of their opening match against Malawi, insisting the Super Falcons are fully prepared to begin their title defence with a victory.

Speaking during the pre-match press conference, Madugu said the team understands the significance of the tournament and is focused on retaining the title while securing qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“Each time you prepare for any competition, you know what that competition means. We’re here for the defence of the World Cup trophy,” Madugu said.

“The team is fully ready and set to go.”

Ajibade echoed the coach’s confidence, describing the mood in camp as positive and focused.

“The team’s spirit is high. Everyone is fully focused. We know why we’re here, and we are ready to take things one step at a time. So we’re 100% ready,” the captain said.

Responding to questions about Nigeria’s objectives following last year’s triumph, Madugu said the team’s mission remains unchanged.

“We have a focus, we have a target, and we know what we really want to achieve. We are here to ensure that we qualify for the World Cup, as well as retain the trophy we won last year.”

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The coach also warned against underestimating Malawi despite their status as tournament debutants.

“We have every respect for all the teams in the tournament. Every team that qualifies for this tournament deserves commendation, and they deserve a lot of respect,” he said.

“They are debutants, yes, but they are a very good side, and we don’t take anything for granted. Everybody is coming here with a purpose, with a mission, so you don’t undermine or underestimate what anybody can do.”

Asked what would constitute a good performance in the opener, Madugu insisted that only victory matters.

“A good performance for us is to win three points, and that’s what we think is a good performance because that’s what matters in this tournament,” he said.

“Of course, you want to think about how you play, the tactical brilliance and all of those things, but if you do all of that and you don’t win, I don’t think that’s going to count for anything. So a good performance for us is to win.”

Ajibade also praised the progress of women’s football across Africa, saying the growing number of players competing in top European leagues reflects deliberate investment by various football federations.

“Seeing them qualify for the World Cup for the first time shows the progress they’re making. It shows the intentionality of the federation or the nation investing in women’s football,” she said.

“Some of the players are also playing in the top five leagues as well. It shows that the future of women’s football is really bright with intentional investment and consistency all around.”

The Nigeria captain also appealed to fans to continue supporting the team throughout the competition.

“Our message to our fans is always the same. They’re always coming out in numbers. They’re always cheering us on both on the field and on social media. We see their support, we see their love,” she said.

“We want them to replicate the same energy, even double it, because we need that energy to keep raising the standard and also keep flying the flag of our nation high.”

Madugu further welcomed the expansion of the tournament, saying it would accelerate the development of women’s football across Africa.

“We approach every game with one ultimate goal, and that is to win,” he said.

“We are having more teams participating with the expansion of the competition. It’s giving more players across the continent the opportunity to showcase their talents. It attracts more attention, and we hope it will positively impact the development of the game.”

The coach, however, stressed that greater investment is still needed across the continent.

“We expect a lot to still be done that will address the welfare of players, improve capacity building for coaches and develop more facilities across Africa. Development has to be more deliberate so that we can catch up with other continents.”

On the future of women’s football in Nigeria, Ajibade said creating a safe and supportive environment for players should take priority over infrastructure alone.

“It’s all about creating the right environment. When you create the right environment, it increases participation and retention,” she said.

“An athlete should feel safe to speak, safe to express themselves and have people around them who will help them develop to the best of their capacity.”

She added: “Everything boils down to creating the right and safe environment. Then everything else follows, including infrastructure and having the right people. Those of us who already have the platform also need to keep advocating and be role models that young girls can look up to.”