Thomas Dennerby Leads Race For Super Falcons Job As NFF Eyes Olympic Qualification

Thomas Dennerby has emerged as a leading candidate to return as head coach of Nigeria’s Super Falcons as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) moves to appoint a new technical crew ahead of the team’s 2028 Olympic qualifying campaign.

The 65-year-old Swedish tactician is reportedly among the top choices being considered, while former Super Falcons coach Florence Omagbemi and other Nigerian coaches are also said to be in contention for the position.

The NFF’s interim leadership, headed by Emmanuel Ikpeme, is reportedly seeking to conclude the appointment before Nigeria begins its Olympic qualifying campaign against Comoros in October.

The move comes after the federation asked Justine Madugu and his technical team to step aside in August following the Falcons’ failure to retain their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in Morocco and their subsequent absence from the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Madugu had previously guided Nigeria to a record-extending 10th WAFCON triumph in 2025 before his departure from the position.

National Sports Commission Director-General Bukola Olopade had also confirmed that changes would be made to the team’s technical structure ahead of the Olympic qualifiers, stressing the importance of securing qualification for the Games.

Dennerby has previous experience with the Super Falcons, having managed the team from January 2018 to September 2019. During his tenure, he 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 their first appearance in the knockout stage of the competition in two decades.

His time with the Falcons ended following an administrative disagreement with the NFF. He subsequently took charge of the Indian women’s national team, a role he held until his contract expired in 2023.

Omagbemi is also being considered for the position, having previously led Nigeria to victory at the 2016 WAFCON.

The Super Falcons returned to the women’s football tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympics after a 16-year absence but were eliminated during the group stage. With Nigeria having missed the 2027 Women’s World Cup, attention has now shifted towards securing a place at the 2028 Olympic Games.

The Falcons are expected to begin their qualifying journey against Comoros in October. Comoros advanced to the second round after recording a 30-0 aggregate victory over Sudan, including a 17-0 win in the first leg and a 13-0 triumph in the return fixture.