2026 WAFCONQ: Madugu Finally Opens Up On Gift Omission

2026 WAFCONQ: Madugu Finally Opens Up On Gift Omission

Sampson Adedeji

Head coach of Nigeria’s Super Falcons, Justin Madugu, has finally broken his silence on the omission of forward Monday Gift from the national team setup, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Gift, who was absent from the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, was also not invited for the ongoing 2026 WAFCON qualifying fixture against Benin Republic sparking conversations among fans about her continued absence.

Addressing the issue, Madugu clarified that there is no personal problem between him and the talented attacker, stressing that her exclusion was purely based on competition within the squad.

 “I have no issues at all with Gift. She is very much part of my plans and will surely play her part in our quest for global success,” Madugu stated.

The coach further explained that the current depth in the Falcons’ attacking department made selection tougher than ever.

“We currently have very strong competition for the forward position, considering the incredible form of players like Esther Okoronkwo, Chiwendu Ihezuo, and even Joy Omewa who, despite scoring plenty of goals last season as Denmark’s top scorer, had to wait for a long time before getting her chance,” he added.