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| Super Falcons in Lisbon |
June 24, 2026 – Lisbon, Portugal
The Super Falcons of Nigeria held Portugal to a goalless draw in an international friendly match played in Lisbon on Tuesday.
The match was a warm-up for the Super Falcons ahead of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The team showed solid defensive organisation and discipline, keeping a clean sheet against a competitive Portuguese side.
The Portuguese team, ranked higher than Nigeria in the FIFA women's rankings, dominated possession but struggled to break down the Super Falcons' defence. The Nigerian team, on the other hand, looked dangerous on the counter-attack and could have won the match with better finishing.
Head Coach Randy Waldrum praised the team's performance, saying: "We showed great defensive discipline today. Portugal is a strong team, and to keep a clean sheet against them is a positive result. We created chances and could have won the game, but I am happy with the overall performance."
Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade said: "We are happy with the performance. We came here to compete and we did. We showed that we can defend as a team and also create chances. We will continue to work hard ahead of the WAFCON."
The Super Falcons are the most successful team in African women's football, with 11 WAFCON titles. They will be hoping to add a 12th title when the tournament takes place later this year.
Efforts to reach officials of the Nigeria Football Federation for comments on the team's preparation for the WAFCON were unsuccessful.
The goalless draw against Portugal provides the Super Falcons with valuable preparation ahead of the WAFCON. The team will need to improve its attacking efficiency to compete for the title. The tournament is an important opportunity for Nigeria to showcase its women's football talent.
A strong performance at the WAFCON would reaffirm Nigeria's dominance in African women's football and inspire the next generation of female footballers in the country.
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