Unlike at previous Wafcon tournaments, when Nigeria had little time to prepare, Madugu and his coaching team have been able to assess the squad through several friendly matches.
Two games against Cameroon earlier in the year were followed by a pair of June warm-ups with Senegal and a win over Tanzania last week.
Among the new players selected by Madugu is 21-year-old goalkeeper Comfort Erhabor, who serves as Nnadozie’s understudy.
The Netherlands-born player, who grew up in England, earned her first international appearance against Cameroon.
“I have great respect for the confidence he [Madugu] shows in younger members of the squad,” she said.
“I was surprised by how quickly and naturally I settled into the group. Everyone made me feel welcome from the start.”
Erhabor currently represents Portsmouth in the third tier of English football. The city is a little more than an hour’s drive along the south coast from Brighton, where Nnadozie plays.
She regards Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper as a close friend and “big sister”, adding that committing her international future to Nigeria was an easy decision.
“Nigeria is part of who I am, so representing my heritage and making my parents proud felt like the greatest possible honour.
“I have a deep affection for the culture. It also mattered to me that people here speak openly about Christianity and religion, because that helps me join the squad with my faith at the centre and feel free to be myself.”
While Madugu attempts to find the ideal balance between youth and experience, Omewa calls the celebrated players she trains with “golden” rather than old.
“We would not have reached this point without them.
“Their presence in the squad gives us the opportunity to learn from their guidance and understand how things should be done.”
Omewa is particularly grateful to fellow forward Oshoala, who is pursuing a fifth Wafcon championship.
“She is an exceptional person. You can speak openly with her, exchange experiences and listen to what she has learned from the challenges in her career.
“In my view, she is an excellent mentor.”
Nigeria will be without some important players, including central defender Ashleigh Plumptre, who played a major role in last year’s Wafcon campaign but is sidelined by a foot injury.
The team’s preparations were further disrupted by reported thefts following their arrival in Morocco. Forward Esther Okoronkwo, named player of the match in last year’s final, is said to have had several hundred dollars stolen.
This year’s tournament prize fund has doubled, with the champions set to receive $2m (£1.5m), reflecting the steady expansion of women’s football across Africa.
Even as the standard of their rivals continues to rise, Nigeria are still regarded as the side everyone must overcome.
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