Super Falcons Coach Justine Madugu gets historic Ballon d’Or nomination
Daniel Williams
21 Mar 2023
This is a historic moment for Nigerian football and a proud achievement for Madugu, who led the Super Falcons to success at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
Super Falcons head coach, Justine Madugu, has been nominated for the 2025 Ballon d’Or Women’s Team Coach of the Year award.
This is a historic moment for Nigerian football and a proud achievement for Madugu, who led the Super Falcons to success at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The announcement was made on Thursday by the official Ballon d’Or page.
Madugu’s name now stands among the best coaches in women’s football around the world.
He joins top names Dutch football manager Sarina Wiegman, USA’s Emma Hayes, former Canada coach Bev Priestman, and Sonia Bompastor on the shortlist for the 2025 Women’s Team Coach of the Year.
At 61 years old, he has brought calmness and unity to the Super Falcons team.
Under his leadership, the team played with purpose and strength, reclaiming their crown as African champions for the 10th time — a record in women’s football on the continent.
In Morocco, the Falcons defeated top teams like South Africa, Morocco, and Zambia — the same sides that had ended Nigeria’s title run in the previous edition.