Former Super Falcons head coach Thomas Dennerby has emerged as a leading candidate to return to the Nigeria women’s national team, with the Nigeria Football Federation stepping up efforts to appoint a new coach ahead of the team’s crucial Olympic qualification campaign.
The Swedish tactician is reportedly in discussions with the NFF over a possible second spell in charge of the Falcons, according to a report by PUNCH Sports Extra. His potential return comes at a critical period for Nigerian women’s football following a disappointing 2026 campaign that saw the team lose their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title and miss out on qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The NFF is now looking to rebuild the team ahead of the next major assignment, with Nigeria scheduled to resume their qualification campaign for the 2028 Olympic Games in October.
The federation had earlier asked the technical crew led by Justine Madugu to step aside following the Falcons’ underwhelming WAFCON campaign in Morocco. Madugu had nevertheless guided Nigeria to a record-extending 10th continental title in 2025, making the subsequent decline particularly disappointing for supporters and football administrators.
With the Olympic qualifiers approaching, the federation is understood to be keen on appointing an experienced coach who can quickly restore stability and competitiveness to the team.
Dennerby has consequently emerged as one of the strongest candidates.
The 65-year-old Swedish coach previously managed the Super Falcons between January 2018 and September 2019 and enjoyed considerable success during his time in Nigeria.
Under his leadership, the Falcons won the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Ghana, defeating South Africa on penalties in the final to retain Nigeria’s dominance on the continent.
Dennerby also guided the team to the knockout stage of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. Nigeria progressed from the group stage as one of the best third-placed teams before eventually losing to Germany in the round of 16.
His achievements made him a popular figure among sections of Nigerian football supporters, who viewed his tactical approach and international experience as important factors in the team’s success.
However, his first spell in charge ended amid a disagreement with the NFF.
Dennerby left his position in 2019 following an administrative dispute with the football authorities. He subsequently returned to Sweden before taking charge of the India women’s national team, a position he held until his contract ended in 2023.
His possible return would therefore represent a major turnaround and could give the Falcons an experienced hand with previous knowledge of the Nigerian football system.
The NFF, however, is not considering only foreign coaches. Nigerian coaches remain in contention for the position, with former Super Falcons captain and coach Florence Omagbemi also mentioned as a possible candidate.
Omagbemi has a strong history with the national team. She was part of the coaching crew that led Nigeria to the 2016 WAFCON title in Cameroon and later became the first Nigerian woman to coach the Falcons to an African championship.
The decision on the next coach is expected to be influenced heavily by the urgency of the Olympic qualifiers.
Nigeria are scheduled to face Comoros in October in the next phase of their qualification campaign. Comoros secured their place in the round after recording a remarkable 30-0 aggregate victory over Sudan.
The Olympics represent an important opportunity for Nigeria to rebuild their reputation after failing to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
The Falcons returned to the Olympic stage at Paris 2024 after a 16-year absence but were unable to progress beyond the group stage. The team will now be hoping to secure another appearance at the Games and improve on their previous campaign.
National Sports Commission Director-General Bukola Olopade previously stressed the importance of strengthening the technical structure around the Falcons, particularly with the Olympics approaching.
He noted that the authorities were determined to ensure the team had a new technical crew before the qualification campaign resumes.
For Nigeria, the appointment will be about more than simply finding a replacement for Madugu. The new coach will inherit a talented squad featuring established international players and emerging stars, but will also face the challenge of rebuilding confidence after a difficult continental campaign.
A return for Dennerby could provide continuity while also bringing back a coach who already understands the demands of managing one of Africa’s most successful women’s football teams.
His previous success with the Falcons gives him a strong case, but the final decision rests with the NFF as it weighs foreign and domestic options.
With the Olympic qualifiers drawing closer, the federation has little time to waste. The next appointment could play a decisive role in determining whether Nigeria can recover from its recent setbacks and secure another place at the Olympic Games.
For Dennerby, a return to Nigeria would offer an opportunity to revive a relationship that ended controversially and once again lead the Super Falcons in their pursuit of continental and international success.
