Tremendous Falcons head coach, Justin Madugu, has admitted that his crew’s efficiency fell wanting expectations after Nigeria had been held to a 1-1 draw by Benin Republic within the second leg of their 2026 WAFCON qualifying tie in Abeokuta on Tuesday.
Regardless of the disappointing outcome, the draw was sufficient to ship Nigeria by to the 2026 Ladies’s Africa Cup of Nations, the place they are going to defend the title received in Morocco final 12 months and likewise purpose to safe qualification for the 2027 FIFA Ladies’s World Cup.
The Falcons entered the match with excessive confidence after defeating Benin 2-0 away from dwelling within the first leg. Nonetheless, they struggled to duplicate that kind in entrance of their dwelling followers, permitting the guests to safe a shock draw.
Talking after the sport, Madugu expressed his disappointment however took duty for the crew’s underwhelming outing.
“Good night all people. For me, it didn’t come a lot as a shock as a result of we knew it was going to be a troublesome recreation. The Beninese crew are organized and we knew it wouldn’t be straightforward,” Madugu stated.
“Nonetheless, I wish to use this chance to apologise to Nigerians for not assembly their expectations. Every time the Tremendous Falcons play, there are at all times excessive expectations by way of outcomes and efficiency. Generally there will be off days, and I believe at present was a type of.”
The coach praised his gamers for his or her effort however acknowledged that extra work must be executed forward of future competitions.
“The ladies did their greatest, however from the outcome and efficiency, it wasn’t what we actually anticipated. We’ll take this as a wake-up name and proceed to construct from right here,” he concluded.
In the meantime their Beninoise counterparts celebrated their 1-1 and their efficiency because the gamers had been in jubilant temper regardless of their non qualification for the WAFCON.
Their coach through the press additionally admitted he’s happy with the the Amazons efficiency and the crew will construct on it going ahead.
