Super Falcons head coach Justin Madugu has urged his players and supporters to put the disappointment of the team’s opening defeat behind them as Nigeria prepares for a crucial clash against Zambia.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s encounter, Madugu acknowledged the setback of losing the first match to tournament debutants but insisted the team has moved on mentally and is fully focused on securing a positive result.

“Although we lost the first game to a debutant, we have moved past it. Everyone has gotten over what happened in the last game, and the mood in camp is very good. The team has settled down and is now fully focused on the next game,” he said.

The coach also addressed criticism surrounding his tactical decisions following the opening defeat, noting that questions over his technical ability only surfaced after the loss despite the team’s previous successes under his leadership.

“My tactics and technical ability were not questioned until after we lost the opening game. This is not my first game with the team. I have handled several matches that we won, and nothing was said then. Without saying much, we know what we are doing as a team.”

Madugu explained that team selection goes beyond simply choosing the most popular players, stressing that tactical plans, training performances, and overall readiness all play significant roles in determining the starting lineup.

“Several things have to be considered when selecting players. The game plan is part of it, while what players show during training also determines their readiness and whether they fit into the team’s lineup. Whatever decisions we make are based on what we believe is best for the team, although, as humans, things can sometimes go wrong.”

On the balance between experienced and younger players, the Super Falcons coach said the squad does not necessarily require an entirely veteran lineup but rather a blend that allows experienced players to provide leadership and guidance.

“The team does not need to have a complete squad of older players. We need a few experienced players for their knowledge, leadership, encouragement, and support. At the same time, we also have to consider the current capacity of those players.

It is difficult to find players who are better than some of the experienced ones we have, but everyone has their time. We have also been integrating younger players. Sometimes you find exceptional talents regardless of age, but such players still require proper guidance to maximize their abilities.”

Madugu defended his decision to deploy players in different positions, dismissing suggestions that positional changes were responsible for the opening defeat.

“We have flexible players, and we also want to win. We will not make dangerous decisions that will hurt the team. We did not lose because players were played in different positions. We have been making such decisions since the last tournament, and they have worked well. Christy Ucheibe and Ashleigh Plumptre are good examples. I take full responsibility for every decision, and we hope to be better.”

Looking ahead to the encounter with Zambia, the coach insisted the Super Falcons are concentrating solely on the task at hand rather than dwelling on previous results.

“The past is the past, and this is a new game. We are not using the result of the last tournament to assess ourselves. We know Zambia prepared well after their victory over Egypt, while we are coming from the disappointment of defeat. We understand what is at stake, and we do not want to make the same mistakes again.”

With qualification hopes hanging in the balance, the Super Falcons will be aiming to respond positively and revive their campaign when they face a confident Zambian side.