Madugu Hints at Toni Payne to Replace Suspended Echegini Against Egypt

Super Falcons head coach Justin Madugu has indicated that Toni Payne is in line to replace suspended midfielder Jennifer Echegini for Nigeria’s decisive Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Group C clash against Egypt.

Nigeria will be without Echegini after the midfielder accumulated two yellow cards during the tournament, ruling her out of Wednesday’s encounter.

The nine-time African champions will also miss defender Oluwatosin Demehin, who was sent off during Nigeria’s 1-0 victory over Zambia.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Madugu expressed confidence in the depth of his squad, insisting that every player is capable of stepping in when needed.

According to the coach, Payne remains one of the options available to fill the gap left by Echegini.

“All the players in the team are good enough; they all have different qualities and have their strengths and weaknesses,” Madugu said.

“She is good to go, she has an opportunity, and hopefully she will also be part of the team, considering the fact that we have players that would not be on the team tomorrow,” he added.

Payne, who has featured prominently for Nigeria in recent years, is regarded as one of the squad’s most versatile players, capable of operating in midfield and attacking positions.

Her experience is expected to provide stability as the Super Falcons seek a positive result against Egypt.

Nigeria revived their campaign with a hard-fought victory over Zambia after suffering a shock defeat to Malawi in their opening group match.

The win restored the team’s hopes of advancing to the knockout stage, leaving the encounter with Egypt as a crucial fixture.

A victory would significantly strengthen Nigeria’s chances of securing qualification for the quarter-finals and keeping alive their bid for a record-extending WAFCON title.

Madugu is expected to reshuffle his starting line-up to compensate for the absence of Echegini and Demehin while maintaining the balance that helped the team overcome Zambia.

The Super Falcons remain among the tournament favourites despite their inconsistent start and will be aiming to finish the group stage on a high note before the knockout rounds begin.

The match against Egypt is scheduled for Wednesday, with qualification to the last eight firmly within Nigeria’s reach.