Former Super Falcons forward, Stella Mbachu has criticised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for delaying the contract confirmation of interim head coach, Justin Madugu, insisting the situation reflects a recurring pattern of neglect towards indigenous coaches.
Mbachu, a holder of multiple Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) triumphs with Nigeria, spoke frustrated that despite guiding the Super Falcons to a record-extending 10th continental crown, Madugu has yet to be given a permanent deal.
She argued that the outcome would have been different if the coach were foreign.
“This is the NFF pattern. This is our country’s pattern. People need to understand our country very well,” Mbachu said.
“In an administrative way, they do things. That is a pattern. Maybe it’s the foreign world now.”
“You see, the contract will be out. Everything about the contract must have been done by now.”
“Well, because he’s an indigenous and he’s an indigenous coach and all the rest of them, they are regulated to do the necessary.”
“So it’s a pattern. It’s a method in Nigeria here. We don’t regard our own.”
“We regard those of them outside there. But there, outside there, they haven’t given us anything yet.”
“To my own understanding, they haven’t given us anything yet, but the indigenous here have been doing the job. So that is our pattern.”
“That is normal.”
A Familiar Debate
The issue of indigenous coaches being overlooked is not new in Nigerian football. Madugu, who stepped in on an interim basis, masterminded Nigeria’s historic WAFCON victory earlier this year, a criteria that strengthened and reinforced his credentials for the permanent role.
NFF have long accused of prioritising foreign coaches despite limited success, while local tacticians who have delivered tangible results often face delayed recognition or unstable contracts.
