Nigeria head coach Justine Madugu has insisted that Nigeria's record-extending triumph at the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) should not mask the fact that the team still has significant areas requiring improvement.

Fresh from guiding the Super Falcons to a historic continental title, Madugu said the coaching crew has already identified aspects of the team's performance that must be refined as Nigeria prepares to defend its African crown and compete on the global stage.

Speaking in an interview with CAFOnline.com, the 62-year-old tactician stressed that while the WAFCON success was a major achievement, the technical team remains committed to continuous improvement.

"We are not a perfect team yet. We have made a lot of observations in the course of the pre-WAFCON matches we played and even during the WAFCON itself. We have analysed many areas that we know we need to work on.

"But these are technical areas that we will keep to ourselves while we continue working on them. The important thing is that we recognise there is always room for improvement and we will continue striving to make the team better."

Madugu's comments underline his determination to build on Nigeria's continental success rather than rest on the laurels of lifting the prestigious trophy.

The WAFCON title marked the culmination of more than a decade of service with the Super Falcons for the experienced coach.

Before taking charge as head coach, Madugu had served in various technical capacities during Nigeria's campaigns at the 2012 WAFCON in Equatorial Guinea, the 2014 tournament in Namibia, the 2018 edition in Ghana and the 2022 finals in Morocco.

His appointment as substantive head coach culminated in Nigeria reclaiming the African title in 2024, making him one of the few indigenous coaches to lead the Super Falcons to continental glory.

The achievement also earned the Adamawa State-born coach international recognition, including a historic nomination for the 2025 Ballon d'Or Women's Team Coach of the Year, becoming the first African coach to receive the prestigious honour.

Madugu, a CAF A Licence holder and current PhD student, has repeatedly credited the team's success to discipline, unity and resilience, revealing that the Super Falcons overcame several distractions and logistical challenges during the tournament without losing focus on their objective.

According to him, the strong bond between the players, coaching staff and backroom personnel created the environment that enabled Nigeria to emerge champions despite the obstacles encountered throughout the competition.

With his current contract running until October 2027, Madugu is now turning his attention to the next Women's Africa Cup of Nations, which will also serve as the qualification tournament for the FIFA Women's World Cup.

The Super Falcons coach has maintained that Nigeria's immediate priorities are to secure World Cup qualification and successfully defend their continental title, while continuing to raise the team's performance standards.

For Madugu, the 2024 WAFCON triumph was not the end of the journey but the foundation for achieving even greater success with Africa's most successful women's national team.