By Amaechi Agbo

Former Super Falcons head coaches Thomas Dennerby and Florence Omagbemi have emerged as leading contenders to take over the vacant Nigeria women’s national team coaching job.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is currently searching for a new technical crew following the exit of Justine Madugu and his staff. The shake-up in the national team setup follows Nigeria’s failure to defend their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in Morocco and missing out on qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

With upcoming qualifiers for the 2028 Olympic Games on the horizon and a crucial fixture against Comoros scheduled for October, the NFF’s interim leadership kead by Emmanuel Ikpeme, is prioritizing a swift appointment to stabilize the squad.

Thomas Dennerby, who previously managed the Super Falcons between January 2018 and October 2019, has left the door open to a sensational return. During his previous tenure, the Swedish coach led Nigeria to the 2018 WAFCON title in Ghana and guided the team to the Round of 16 at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France—marking Nigeria’s first appearance in the tournament’s knockout stages since 1999.

 Although his initial spell ended abruptly due to contractual disagreements and working condition disputes, the 67-year-old tactician maintains a close affinity for the team and is viewed by analysts as a top candidate given his familiarity with Nigerian football.

Also heavily linked with the role is former Super Falcons captain and trailblazing coach Florence Omagbemi. Omagbemi wrote her name into African football history when she became the first woman to win the WAFCON tournament as both a player and a head coach, leading the Super Falcons to glory in Cameroon in 2016. Widely respected for her deep understanding of the team’s culture and player dynamics, her potential appointment has received strong backing from various ex-internationals and supporters who favor an indigenous coach with proven pedigree to rebuild the squad.

The National Sports Commission and the NFF are under immense pressure to reposition the Super Falcons ahead of the Olympic qualification series. Authorities have stressed the importance of tweaking the team’s technical direction to restore the country’s dominance on the continent and ensure a successful qualification campaign for the global stage