Super Falcons coach Justine Madugu has disclosed that his nomination for the esteemed Ballon d’Or award will serve as motivation for him to intensify his efforts.
Madugu guided the Super Falcons to a historic 10th WAFCON trophy in July, following the team’s 3-2 victory over Morocco in the final.
As a result, he received a nomination in the Women’s Coach of the Year category for the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.
He will compete against Chelsea Women’s Sonia Bompastor, Arsenal Women’s Renee Slegers, Brazil Women’s Arthur Elias, and England Women’s Sarina Wiegman.
Madugu has pledged to leverage this nomination as motivation to push himself further.
He stated: “I was still relishing the joy of winning the WAFCON trophy and being recognized as the best coach of the tournament when I learned about my nomination for the Ballon d’Or Best Coach Award in women’s football.
“It was unexpected, but I embraced it as a challenge, hoping that increased effort would elevate me and other African coaches to the heights of global football.
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“Being nominated among the top five coaches in the world is no small achievement – it’s a significant honor. Regardless of the outcome, it will undoubtedly inspire me to strive for more. I must first acknowledge the Nigeria Football Federation President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, and his executive committee for providing me with the platform to demonstrate my coaching skills.”
Madugu expressed his gratitude towards the players and coaching staff for their contributions to the team’s success.
He remarked, “My players and technical staff deserve recognition for adhering to instructions and providing the essential support that led to our trophy win.
