The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Coach Justin Madugu as the interim head coach of the Super Falcons, Nigeria’s Senior Women’s National Football Team.

Madugu steps in to fill the role following the resignation of former coach Randy Waldrum, who stepped down due to personal reasons.

Waldrum had a notable four-year tenure, achieving several key milestones, including leading the Super Falcons to the Round of 16 at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, held in Australia and New Zealand.

He also guided the team to secure qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, a feat the Falcons hadn’t accomplished since 2008. In his resignation letter, dated September 12, Waldrum expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to coach the team and emphasized the need to focus on his family.

As the new interim coach, Justin Madugu faces the challenge of building on these achievements, with the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco scheduled for next summer.

Expectations will be high for him to maintain the momentum and success Waldrum brought to the team.

In a related development, the NFF confirmed that Coach Augustine Eguavoen will remain in his role as head coach of the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Football Team.

Eguavoen, 58, will lead the team in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches, with a crucial fixture against Libya next month.

Under his leadership, the Super Eagles have recently achieved a 3-0 victory over Benin Republic and a goalless draw against Rwanda.

Eguavoen’s coaching team includes experienced assistants such as Fidelis Ilechukwu, Daniel Ogunmodede, Olatunji Baruwa, and Tomaz Zorec, who will also manage the Super Eagles B team as they aim to qualify for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

These appointments were approved by the NFF Executive Committee, following recommendations from the federation’s Technical and Development Sub-Committee.

As Madugu and Eguavoen lead their respective teams, Nigerian football fans will be eagerly watching how both coaches navigate these important upcoming tournaments and qualifiers.

Gabriel Magalhaes emerged as the hero in Arsenal’s narrow 1-0 win against Tottenham on Sunday, heading in the decisive goal that extended the Gunners’ dominance in the North London derby.

Despite missing key players like Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, Mikel Arteta’s squad proved their resilience on a challenging trip to their rival’s home ground.

Arsenal was without captain Odegaard, sidelined with an ankle injury picked up during international duty with Norway, while Rice was serving a suspension following his red card against Brighton.

The absence of these two midfield anchors initially raised concerns about Arsenal’s vulnerability as they faced off against their fierce rivals.

However, Arsenal showed grit and determination, battling through Tottenham’s misfiring attack. Their persistence paid off when Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes scored a crucial second-half header, marking his first goal since February.

This victory added to Arsenal’s impressive unbeaten run this season, with three wins out of four league matches.

As the Gunners aim for their first Premier League title since 2004, their ability to overcome setbacks and deliver results could be key to ending their long title drought after back-to-back second-place finishes.

Liverpool dropped points for the first time this season after a stunning second-half goal by Callum Hudson-Odoi secured Nottingham Forest’s first victory at Anfield in 55 years.

The 1-0 win was orchestrated by Forest’s manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, as Arne Slot’s previously unbeaten side struggled to break down a resilient Forest defense.

Liverpool, who had not conceded a league goal before this match, were caught off-guard in the 72nd minute.

Hudson-Odoi, introduced from the Forest bench, seized the opportunity as Liverpool’s backline retreated, allowing him space to take a shot from 20 yards. His beautifully curled strike sailed beyond a fully stretched Alisson into the far corner, leaving the home side stunned.

Despite dominating much of the game with 14 shots – five on target – Liverpool lacked the finishing touch. Their typically clinical attack faltered, as every final pass or shot fell short of the mark.

This contrasted sharply with their earlier performances, where they netted seven goals in the first three weeks of the season.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s tactical decisions paid off brilliantly. His team selection, featuring four changes including Ryan Yates and James Ward-Prowse to strengthen the midfield, effectively frustrated Liverpool’s attacking rhythm.

The introduction of Anthony Elanga and Hudson-Odoi in the second half proved decisive, with their combination leading to the match-winning goal.

While Liverpool’s ambitions remain high under Slot’s management, this defeat will be a sobering reminder of the challenges ahead, as Forest celebrated a famous win that will be remembered for years to come.