CAN Féminine 2026: Justine Madugu (Nigeria) Aims for Victory Against Cameroon

Nigeria is set to face Cameroon on Sunday in the quarter-finals of the CAN Féminine 2026. Ahead of this match, the head coach of the Super Falcons, Justin Madugu, emphasized the significance of the encounter and the importance of qualification for the World Cup. He affirmed that his team is ready to meet the challenge.

"This is an important match because we all know what is at stake: qualification for the World Cup. After qualification, there are the semi-finals, which will allow us to continue our quest to retain the trophy. We will be fully prepared, give our best, and do everything to win," stated Justin Madugu.

The Nigerian coach refrained from referencing the last two friendly encounters between the two teams to assess the current power dynamics. According to him, the contexts and the squads have changed since those matches. "The last two matches we played against Cameroon were friendly games. A lot has changed, and some players who were unavailable before are now present in both teams. Therefore, we do not use those matches to evaluate the current team."

After conceding several goals during the group stage, Madugu assured that his team has worked hard to correct their defensive errors. Nigeria now aims to display greater solidity while maintaining offensive effectiveness. "We believe that from the quarter-finals onwards, we will start to stop conceding goals. We have worked hard to rectify the errors and shortcomings that led to those goals. Certainly, we conceded goals, but we also scored many, so the balance remains positive," added the coach.

Additionally, the Super Falcons coach addressed the physical condition of his squad. Several players have been dealing with physical issues as they approach this crucial match. "We have some injury concerns within the team. The medical staff is working to resolve these issues to prepare the players to perform at their best."

As they approach this quarter-final, Nigeria aims to pursue their path toward the title and secure qualification for the upcoming World Cup.