Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu has been nominated for the prestigious 2025 Ballon d’Or Women’s Team Coach of the Year award.
The announcement was made on Thursday by France Football, the organizers of the globally revered Ballon d’Or awards.
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Madugu’s nomination comes on the heels of his remarkable leadership in guiding Nigeria’s Super Falcons to their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title.
Madugu joins an elite list of nominees that includes some of the most accomplished names in women’s football. Among them is Sonia Bompastor, the French tactician currently managing Chelsea Women, whose team dominated the English Women’s Super League last season.
Brazil’s Arthur Elias, who currently leads the Brazilian women’s national team, is also on the list following his successful restructuring of the squad and tactical evolution of the side.
Also vying for the coveted honour are Dutch football brains Renée Slegers, who is making waves as head coach of Arsenal Women, and Sarina Wiegman, England’s national team coach and a two-time UEFA Women’s Coach of the Year.
Wiegman notably led the Lionesses to consistent international success, winning the 2025 Euro ane runners-up at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Justine Madugu’s nomination reflects his outstanding impact on African women’s football and his growing reputation on the global stage.
Under his guidance, the Super Falcons displayed resilience, tactical discipline, and attacking flair throughout the WAFCON tournament. Their triumph reaffirmed Nigeria’s dominance on the continent and rekindled hope in the team’s ability to make deeper runs in future World Cup tournaments.
The winner of the Ballon d’Or Women’s Team Coach of the Year will be announced at the annual Ballon d’Or gala in Paris later this year.
Football analysts say Madugu’s nomination marks a significant milestone not just for Nigerian football, but for African coaching excellence as a whole.
