Madugu expects Falcons’ masterclass against Algeria

Super Falcons interim coach Justin Madugu expects a top-draw performance from his largely home-based team as they face Algeria in the first leg of the international friendly at Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, on Saturday (today), Saturday PUNCH reports.

The fixture, with the second leg scheduled for Tuesday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, marks Nigeria’s first Grade A friendlies on home soil since the 2021 Aisha Buhari Women’s Tournament.

Following the team’s disappointing Olympics campaign where they lost all three group matches to Brazil, Spain, and Japan, Madugu, who replaced Randy Waldrum after the American gaffer resigned in September, is keen to rebuild the team’s confidence.

“We have been having useful sessions since we resumed on Monday. I am impressed with the discipline and sense of dedication of the players,” Madugu said.

“We respect the Algerians just as we respect every team we play, but the truth is that we need to bounce back strongly from the below-par outing at the Olympics and restore our team’s confidence and positive spirit.”

The coach is set to deploy a 4-4-2 formation, featuring five home-based players alongside foreign professionals, including captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, and defenders Chidinma Okeke and Oluwatosin Demehin.

Other overseas-based players in the squad are midfielder Esther Onyenezide of Hapoel Katamon and striker Gift Monday of UDG Tenerife.

The remaining spots will be contested by 19 players in the domestic league, with both teams likely to make up to 11 changes during the matches.

Both teams will travel to Ikenne on Saturday morning with security escorts for the evening match before returning to Lagos to prepare for Tuesday’s reverse encounter.

The matches present a rare opportunity for Nigeria Women’s Football League players to vie for spots in the senior national team, potentially ushering in what Madugu describes as the ‘New Face of Super Falcons’.