WAFCON: Dr Adayehi Advises Coach Justine Pwanidi Madugu Over Referees 

Following proceedings at WAFCON, a stakeholder, Dr Emmanuel Peter Adayehi, has expressed concerns over the referees officiating the matches while also advising the Coach of the Super Falcons, Justine Pwanidi Madugu, to focus on taking of penalties by his players. 

Dr Adayehi said, “I am writing to express my concern about the refereeing in the ongoing WAFCON match, particularly in the game against Algeria. It appeared that two clear-cut penalties were denied Nigeria, which significantly impacted the game’s outcome”.

“I’ve noticed that foreign coaches from European leagues and UEFA have also raised concerns about the refereeing decisions. I think it’s essential for our team, the Super Falcons, to consistently appeal to the center referee in such situations.”

“Furthermore, I’ve observed that penalty shooting wasn’t a focus during practice sessions. Given Nigeria’s past experiences, such as the 2015 World Cup match against England where penalties decided the outcome, I believe it’s crucial for the team handlers to prioritize penalty training.”

“Practicing penalties can significantly improve our team’s chances of winning in high-pressure situations. I hope this will be addressed moving forward” Adayehi stated.

The Super Falcons’ next match is against Zambia in the quarterfinals of WAFCON 2025, scheduled for July 18, 2025, at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.