The Super Falcons of Nigeria were held to a goalless draw by Portugal on Monday in Lisbon in their penultimate friendly match ahead of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Fresh from naming a 24-player squad for the tournament and buoyed by a recent win over Cameroon, expectations were high.
However, it was goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie who emerged as the standout performer, making several key saves to preserve the stalemate.
Despite Portugal entering the fixture without a win in their previous four games, conceding 20 goals in that stretch, the hosts were the more threatening side, particularly in the first half.
Nigeria, who only arrived in Lisbon the night before, fielded an understrength lineup and struggled for cohesion.
The Super Falcons’ best chance came late in the game when Francisca Ordega’s long-range strike rattled the woodwork, narrowly missing what could have been a dramatic winner.
With one more friendly to go against archrivals Ghana on June 29, head coach Justin Madugu will be keen to see a sharper performance from his side before the tournament kicks off.
