The Super Falcons of Nigeria played out a goalless draw against Portugal on Monday evening in an international friendly match held in Lisbon. The fixture served as a crucial preparatory test ahead of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) set to kick off in Morocco next month.
Head coach Justin Madugu fielded a strong starting lineup, with Chiamaka Nnadozie in goal and a backline featuring Osinachi Ohale, Miracle Usani, Shukurat Oladipo, and Tosin Demehin. Midfield duties were handled by Toni Payne, Christy Ucheibe, and Jennifer Echegini, while Rasheedat Ajibade, Francisca Ordega, and Rinsola Babajide led the attack.
Despite Portugal enjoying superior possession and creating more chances, they were unable to break through a resolute Nigerian defense, anchored by a standout performance from Nnadozie. The nine-time African champions remained disciplined and compact throughout the game, effectively absorbing pressure from the technically sound Portuguese side.
Portugal threatened early in the match, creating several dangerous opportunities by the 24th minute. However, the Super Falcons’ defense—bolstered by Nnadozie’s sharp reflexes—kept the scoreline intact.
Nigeria struggled to create clear chances in the first half but maintained a solid defensive structure. Wingers Ajibade and Babajide showed sparks of creativity, while Echegini and Ucheibe worked to connect play from midfield.
The Falcons emerged from the break with renewed energy and pressed higher up the pitch. Their most notable moment came in the 80th minute when Ordega attempted an audacious long-range chip after spotting the Portuguese goalkeeper off her line. The shot beat the keeper but rebounded off the crossbar, drawing applause from the Nigerian bench.
Portugal made multiple substitutions in the second half, introducing Ana Capeta, Tatiana Pinto, Stephanie Ribeiro, Andreia Faria, and Bárbara Lopes, but were still unable to find a breakthrough. Ohale and Demehin remained solid at the heart of Nigeria’s defense, cutting off numerous attacks.
Nnadozie, who had to receive medical attention multiple times in the second half due to injury scares, played through the pain and completed the match. Her bravery and performance will be a key concern and focus for the medical team ahead of the tournament, as she remains an indispensable part of Nigeria’s squad.
The friendly marked Nigeria’s penultimate match before WAFCON kicks off. The Super Falcons will next face Ghana on June 29 in Morocco in what has been billed the ‘Jollof Derby’—a high-stakes fixture fueled by the historic rivalry between the two West African giants.
Nigeria, drawn in Group B, will open their WAFCON campaign against Tunisia on July 6 at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca. They will also face Algeria and Botswana in the group stage.
Coach Madugu, who succeeded American tactician Randy Waldrum, is leading the Super Falcons into their first major tournament under his watch. The team is aiming to reclaim the continental crown they last won in 2018 and extend their record as the most successful women’s national team in Africa, with nine titles from twelve editions since the competition’s inception in 1998.