The Super Falcons of Nigeria were forced to settle for a goalless draw against Portugal in their penultimate friendly match ahead of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The match, played on Monday in Lisbon, tested Nigeria’s readiness for the upcoming continental showpiece.
Despite naming a 24-woman squad for the tournament and coming off an impressive victory against Cameroon, the Falcons struggled to find their rhythm in the Portuguese capital, with goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie emerging as the standout performer. The Paris FC shot-stopper made several crucial saves to deny the hosts and keep the score level.
Portugal, who had failed to win any of their previous four matches — conceding 20 goals in that period — surprisingly dominated much of the encounter, especially in the first half, as Nigeria’s understrength squad struggled to find cohesion following a late arrival in Lisbon.
The Super Falcons’ best opportunity to snatch victory came in the closing stages when Francisca Ordega’s powerful long-range strike crashed against the woodwork, narrowly missing what could have been a dramatic winner.
With just one more preparatory match — a grudge tie against arch-rivals Ghana on June 29 — head coach Justin Madugu will be eager to see improvements, particularly in attack, as the team fine-tunes for the WAFCON tournament proper.
