AFCON 2025
Nigeria’s Super Falcons head coach, Justine Madugu, has been nominated for the 2025 Ballon d’Or Women’s Team Coach of the Year award — a landmark recognition for the growth of women’s football in Nigeria and across Africa.
The nomination, announced on Wednesday, August 7 by France Football, acknowledges Madugu’s outstanding leadership of the Super Falcons, particularly during their triumphant campaign at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
Under his guidance, Nigeria claimed a record-extending 10th continental title, defeating host nation Morocco in a dramatic final that showcased tactical discipline and mental resilience.
Madugu’s inclusion on the prestigious shortlist marks the first time a Nigerian coach has been nominated in this category, putting him in the company of some of the world’s elite managers.
Other nominees include Sonia Bompastor (Chelsea), Sarina Wiegman (England), Renée Slegers (Arsenal), and Arthur Elias (Brazil Women).
The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to hold on September 22 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, where winners across multiple categories — including the Men’s and Women’s Ballon d’Or, Kopa Trophy, Yashin Trophy, and Coach of the Year awards — will be unveiled.
If Madugu emerges victorious, he will make history as the first African winner of the Women’s Team Coach of the Year award, a feat that would further solidify Nigeria’s status as a powerhouse in global women’s football.
