With less than two months to the first match of the Super Falcons for the next Olympic Games qualifier from the African zone, the horizon looks foggy as the moderators of Nigerian football, the Nigerian Football Federation NFF are in election tango and a return to the Glass House administrative headquarters is top card.
The football Lords on seat now are facing brickbats of several allegations including corruption, negligence and bad football governance but last 17th August NFF booted out the Manager, Madugu and his crew that took the Super Falcons to the WAFCON 2026 tournament in Morocco for alleged non performance as the ten times continental champions were shoved out at the quarterfinal stage. Nigerians wept, shook their heads and threw stones at the once beautiful Glass House in Abuja.
Seeded Super Falcons drew bye into the 2nd round of the qualifiers and are scheduled to play a two legged encounters against Comoros who caused commotion with a 30-0 goals aggregate win over Sudan. The two legs are scheduled for 6-13th October 2026.
The winner of the minnows to the Falcons in Comoros is scheduled to meet the winner of a Morocco vs Congo in the 3rd round Slated for 26th February to 6th March, 2027. The winner of Nigeria/Comoros vs Morocco/Congo will clash against winner of Tunisia/Senegal vs Benin/Mali in the 4th round. Then the 5th and last hurdle that will take place 23rd November to 4th December 2027
A final play off to determine the two African countries to be at the Olympic Games women football.
The dominant Super Falcons of Nigeria has the best appearances record at the Olympics from Africa with four attendances making quarterfinals twice, placing 8th in 2000; 6th in 2004; 11th in 2008 as well as 2011 which no African team has neared except Zambia that made 9th position (round of 16) in 2020 the other two countries including Cameroon placed 12th.
Rumours had it that 58 year old former Flying Eagles Coach, Dr. Ladan Bosso born 5th October 1967 who hails from Bosso in Minna Niger State of Nigeria and handled the Flying Eagles 2020-2024 was appointed but Patmos Media Line gathered from impeccable sources that the idea came from media woofers not from NFF.
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Coach Bosso, the journalists from their joint in Abuja told us that it was a compensation for Bosso who lost out being U23 Male Coach with Samson Siasia who also coached U23 and the Super Eagles before. Siasia was said to be coaching rusty but some lords ditched Bosso in a chess game at the Glass House and gave it to Super Eagles Coach, Eric Chelle so he should have the Super Falcons now.
NFF source blew foul, no time to discuss that but politicking across the nation. Bosso who is known for solid defence style was at logger head with British Ref Webs Howell who he described as a racist for robbing Nigeria at the U20 world cup and Bosso was expectedly sanctioned by FIFA.
But to save it’s face, NFF digress focus on alleged bad football governance and 62 year old, Justin Madugu was shocked out on 17th August with the wires Malawi used at WAFCON 2026. Madugu who fans alleged “does not have the body shape of a football coach looking unfit”, had taken over from the man same fans called NUGA Coach (that is Coach for Universities and not National teams because he is a veteran American Universities Soccer coach) that is Randy Waldrum who handled the Super Falcons from October 2020 to 2024.
There are two distinguished Nigerian ladies that managed the Super Falcons before. Uche Eucharia led Nigeria to win 2010 African Women’s Championship and managed Nigeria at the 2011 FIFA female world cup. Florence Omagbemi, our darling Floryjojo was manager February to December 2016 and led Nigeria to win 2016 WAFCON.
The fear is that the lack of early preparation for the Super Falcons may make them to falter again. The Manager would need to rest old legs, bring back some talented current players who have been humiliated and get fresh legs as another formidable Women’s team in Morocco is on their path.
Will the Glass House act now and make appointments of a new team handlers or just KIV (keep in view) the idea until about 30th September after their Annual General Assembly and elections in Lafia, capital city of Nasarawa State on 27th September?
The 34th Summer Olympic Games will take place in Los Angeles, California USA 14th to 30th July 2028.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
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