‘This is not the Super Falcons we all know’ — Fans slam coach Magudu as Nigeria struggle to beat Botswana

The Super Falcons may have secured a place in the quarterfinals of WAFCON 2025, but their 1-0 win over Botswana on Thursday night has sparked more criticism than celebration.

With an unconvincing display against a team ranked 121 spots below them in the FIFA rankings, fans have now turned their frustrations towards head coach Justin Madugu.

After an impressive 3-0 victory over Tunisia in their tournament opener, the Super Falcons were expected to dominate Botswana, who had just lost 1-0 to Algeria.

However, what followed was a frustrating 90 minutes of toothless possession and missed opportunities as Nigeria struggled to break down the stubborn Botswana side.

Asisat Oshoala and Rinsola Babajide were blunt upfront, while midfield creativity was almost nonexistent in the opening half.

It was not until late in the second half, when substitutes Christy Ucheibe, Chinwendu Ihezuo, and Esther Okoronkwo were introduced, that Nigeria finally found rhythm. Ihezuo’s 89th-minute goal spared Nigeria's blushes, but it was not enough to convince supporters.

On X (formerly Twitter), one user lamented, “This is not the Super Falcons we all know, the coach needs to do better in gameplay and management.”

Another went even further, declaring, “Na who give this coach a license I blame o. I have NEVER seen the Super Falcons this USELESS.”

Much of the backlash has focused squarely on coach Justin Madugu, and fans were puzzled by his decision to bench key players against a team Nigeria was widely expected to dominate.

Criticism online was brutal. “How did NFF end up appointing that man?” wrote one fan. “You can’t struggle against weaker opponents and expect to beat South Africa, Morocco, or Zambia.” Another added, “Super Falcons coach just dey clueless! Bring on someone that can take on defenders, ahh.”

With Algeria up next, and expectations sky-high, Madugu’s tactical choices will be under an even sharper microscope.