The Super Falcons of Nigeria battled to a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Portugal in a friendly encounter on Monday night, as both teams ramp up preparations for major continental tournaments.
The closely contested match saw the Super Falcons and the Portuguese women create chances, but neither could find a breakthrough in front of goal.
Nigeria improved significantly in the second half, following the introduction of more experienced players, and could have snatched a win but the game ended without producing a goal.
The draw is seen as a positive result for both sides as they fine-tune tactics ahead of upcoming competitions, the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for Nigeria, and the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 for Portugal.
Meanwhile, Super Falcons head coach Justin Madugu has explained his decision to leave out in-form forward Monday Gift from his final 24-player squad for WAFCON.
Gift, who joined the Washington Spirit in the United States National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in March, has been in scintillating form, scoring four goals and providing one assist in just nine appearances.
Speaking to reporters in Abuja, Madugu said the decision was difficult but necessary due to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regulations.
“These players are all national assets. Leaving anyone out is painful,” Madugu said. “However, CAF regulations limit the number of players we can take. We carried out a detailed analysis across all positions, assessing strengths, weaknesses, and flexibility. It’s not just Gift; there were others we would have loved to include too.”
The Super Falcons are set to face Ghana’s Black Queens in another preparatory friendly on Friday, as they continue building momentum for their WAFCON campaign.
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