Super Falcons Coach Madugu Reveals Halftime Speech That Inspired Comeback

DDM News

(DDM) – Super Falcons head coach, Justin Madugu, has opened up about how his team overturned a two-goal deficit to beat Morocco 3–2 in a historic WAFCON 2024 final.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the final match was held on Saturday night at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, where Nigeria claimed its 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title, the most by any country in the tournament’s history.

The dramatic win came after the Super Falcons had fallen behind 2–0 in the first half against the host nation, Morocco.

Despite the intense pressure and roaring home support for the Moroccans, the Nigerian team maintained composure and fought back fiercely.

Madugu praised his players for their mental strength and tactical awareness under such high-stakes circumstances.

“If they didn’t have mental resilience, they would have given up,” he stated during the post-match interview.

“But they kept believing and earned this victory,” he added.

Madugu, who was later crowned Coach of the Tournament, credited a crucial halftime conversation for the turnaround.

He admitted that some early tactical decisions backfired and led to the two goals conceded.

“We had a plan, but some of the things we tried to avoid ended up costing us two goals,” he said.

The coach explained that adjustments made during the halftime break helped re-energize the players and change the momentum of the match.

His tactical switch and words of encouragement sparked a comeback that saw Nigeria net three unanswered goals in the second half.

Nigeria’s path to the final was far from easy, having faced stiff competition in every stage of the tournament.

They started strong with a convincing victory over Tunisia in their group opener.

That was followed by a narrow 1–0 win against Botswana and a goalless draw with Algeria.

In the quarterfinals, the Super Falcons demolished Zambia with flair and precision.

Their semifinal clash against South Africa was a tense affair, which Nigeria edged by a single goal.

The final against Morocco was particularly significant because it was a rematch of their controversial 2022 semi-final loss.

On that occasion, Nigeria had lost on penalties after finishing the game with nine players due to two red cards.

This time, however, the Super Falcons were determined to rewrite history and claim redemption.

With thousands of Moroccan fans in the stands, Nigeria’s women dug deep to silence the crowd and snatch the title.

Madugu credited not just tactics, but the team’s belief, unity, and hunger for success.

“They fought for every ball,” he said. “They refused to be broken.”

The Super Falcons’ victory has once again confirmed their status as queens of African football.

Their 10th WAFCON trophy further cements their legacy as the most dominant team on the continent.

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