African champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria, kick-started their preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Senegal’s Teranga Lionesses on Friday evening.
The high-profile international friendly, played at the packed Remo Stars Sports Complex in Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, saw the reigning continental queens assert their dominance early on before surviving a late scare from the visitors.
First-Half Dominance
Head coach Justine Madugu fielded a strong starting lineup, notably handing a senior debut to young Portsmouth goalkeeper Comfort Erhabor.
From the blast of the whistle, Nigeria took absolute control of the encounter, dictating the tempo and pinning the Senegalese side deep into their own half.
The breakthrough for the 10-time African champions arrived in the 32nd minute. After intense pressure led to a handball inside the Senegalese box, the referee pointed directly to the penalty spot.
Returning veteran forward and former African Women’s Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala, stepped up confidently to coolly slot the ball past goalkeeper Khady Faye.
It was a triumphant return for Oshoala, marking her first appearance for the national team since the 2024 WAFCON final.
The Falcons refused to take their foot off the gas and doubled their advantage just two minutes before the interval. In the 43rd minute, defender Shukurat Oladipo unleashed a brilliant, defense-splitting pass to find Toni Payne.
The Everton midfielder timed her run perfectly and produced a superb finish to make it 2-0.
Nigeria almost added a third before the halftime whistle, but captain Rasheedat Ajibade saw her brilliant effort denied by an alert Faye.
Late Drama and Subbed Strategy
The second half saw a drop in tempo as Coach Madugu utilized the opportunity to test his squad depth, making a flurry of substitutions.
Folashade Ijamilusi and Oshoala both had opportunities to put the game completely out of reach but couldn’t find the target.
Senegal, growing in confidence as the game wore on, capitalised on a lapse in the Nigerian midfield.
In the 86th minute, Sokhna Nogaye intercepted a loose pass and unleashed a stunning, long-range rocket that sailed past Erhabor to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
The late goal set up a tense final few minutes, but the Super Falcons showcased their veteran composure, bringing on Josephine Mathias and Rinsola Babajide to successfully manage the clock and secure the victory.
The Road to Morocco
This historic match marked the first-ever senior-level meeting between the Super Falcons and the Teranga Lionesses.
Both powerhouse nations are using the window to fine-tune their tactics ahead of the upcoming 14th edition of the WAFCON tournament in Morocco, where Nigeria will look to defend their crown.
”It was a good test for the girls, especially getting the returning players back into the groove,” a team official noted after the match. “We controlled long spells, but the late goal shows there are still areas we need to tighten up before the tournament begins.”
Fans won’t have to wait long for a rematch. The Super Falcons and the Teranga Lionesses will square off again in the second leg of their friendly double header on Monday, June 8, at the same Ikenne venue.
