Nigeria head coach Justin Madugu has admitted that bringing 11 debutants to the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) was a significant gamble, Soccernet.ng reports.
However, Madugu insists the newcomers have already proven their worth following their significant contributions to Nigeria's emphatic 3-0 victory over Tunisia.
Madugu’s squad selection raised eyebrows before the tournament began, with 11 players earning their first-ever WAFCON call-ups.
Six of them — Esther Okoronkwo, Jennifer Echegini, Folashade Ijamilusi, Rinsola Babajide, Oluwatosin Demehin, and Abiodun Deborah — featured against Tunisia, and their performances helped Nigeria cruise to victory.
Babajide scored one and assisted another in the first half to help Nigeria take control of the Match early. Okoronkwo later came off the bench to supply the assist for the Super Falcons's third goal and was named Woman of the Match for her impact.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Madugu explained the rationale behind his bold squad overhaul.
What coach Justin Madugu said
“About the new players in the team,” Madugu said. “There are a lot of debutants in the team. It's like a risk you are taking a lot of debutants to come to a competition of this magnitude. We have about eleven debutants in the team.
“It is not too much of a worry for us because we see the potential and the capacity in them.
“We have played several matches with them, playing against several countries and they have really proven that they are good enough. That's why they are equally here. You don't see any stage fright in them. You don't see anything that will give you some doubts that, ‘How come this person is here?'
“They are doing well. There is a good mix and relationship between them and the older players, the more experienced players in the team. It has been going very well, on the pitch and off the pitch. You see a lot of the senior players trying to encourage them, to guide them. Even in their discussions when they sit down, they try to motivate the younger ones. It's a learning process for the debutants. It will help them in their careers at their clubs and also with the national team.”
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Five other first-timers — Shukurat Oladipo (20), Sikiratu Isah (27), Miracle Usani (18), Udoka Unachukwu (19), and Chioma Okafor (22) — are yet to feature, but could be handed debuts against Botswana.
The Super Falcons head into their second Group B fixture against Botswana on Thursday with a chance to match a defensive record that has stood for nearly three decades.
A clean sheet at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca would see Nigeria go unbeaten in their opening two WAFCON games for the first time since 1998, when they defeated Morocco 8-0 and DR Congo 6-0.
Botswana, meanwhile, will be desperate to bounce back from their 1-0 opening loss to Algeria, but history does not favour the Mares. They have now lost four straight matches at the WAFCON finals and are yet to register a clean sheet in the tournament’s history.
For Nigeria, the focus will be on continuing their fine form, preserving their defensive solidity, and securing early qualification for the knockout rounds. A clean sheet would not just send a message to their continental rivals — it would also etch this Falcons squad into the WAFCON history books.
