Nigeria’s Super Falcons held Portugal to a goalless draw in a tough friendly match.
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie shined as both teams missed chances in the build-up to WAFCON.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons and Portugal played out a goalless draw in a keenly contested international friendly on Monday in Amadora, Portugal. The match served as part of Nigeria’s preparations for the upcoming 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
This encounter marked the second time both teams were facing each other, following a thrilling 3-3 draw in a previous friendly back in 2021. While Portugal dominated the first half with sharper attacks and more possession, the Super Falcons responded with a much-improved performance after halftime.
Head coach Justin Madugu made critical substitutions that helped shift the game’s momentum. The introduction of Ifeoma Onumonu, Halimotu Ayinde, and Ashleigh Plumptre in the second half brought renewed energy to the Nigerian side. They replaced Jennifer Echegini, Jumoke Alani Usani, and Rinsola Babajide, respectively.
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie emerged as Nigeria’s standout performer, keeping the Falcons in the game with a series of brilliant saves. The Paris FC shot-stopper was called into action several times and rose to the occasion each time to deny the Portuguese from finding the net.
Portugal came into the match on a poor run of form, having lost their previous four games, but showed early intent with multiple attacking moves. Nigeria, fresh off a 2-0 win against Cameroon on June 3, looked to maintain momentum but struggled to create clear chances in the first half.
The first real opportunity for Nigeria came in the 15th minute when Rasheedat Ajibade turned her marker inside the box, but her left-footed strike lacked power and was easily collected by the Portuguese keeper.
At the other end, Portugal nearly took the lead on 24 minutes when a long ball from their half was poorly cleared by Tosin Demehin. Nnadozie reacted quickly and raced off her line to recover the danger.
Just minutes later, the Nigerian keeper made a stunning save, tipping a goal-bound shot over the crossbar. She continued to shine with another acrobatic leap in the 33rd minute to push a dangerous looping ball away from the goal.
Portugal resumed the second half with even more urgency, but Nnadozie was again unbeatable first with a point-blank stop just five minutes in and then with a one-handed save to deny a powerful header from a set piece.
In the 54th minute, a Portuguese forward beat the offside trap and controlled a long pass, but Nnadozie read the play perfectly and dove full stretch to intercept the ball and keep the score level.
Nigeria finally began to assert more pressure around the hour mark. Ajibade delivered a sharp low cross on 57 minutes that nearly found a teammate, only for the Portuguese defense to clear it. She came close again in the 71st minute but couldn’t convert her connection from a cross into a goal.
With 10 minutes left on the clock, Francisca Ordega spotted the Portuguese keeper off her line and attempted an audacious lob from a distance. The effort beat the keeper but crashed against the crossbar, drawing gasps from the crowd.
In the 84th minute, Ordega sent in another teasing cross, but Onumonu, unmarked and with only the keeper to beat, failed to get a clean touch, squandering a late opportunity for the Falcons to snatch a win.
Despite the lack of goals, the game provided valuable insights and positives for Nigeria ahead of the WAFCON tournament. The team’s next assignment will be another friendly match against Ghana’s Black Queens, scheduled for Sunday, June 29.
The Falcons remain unbeaten in their build-up games so far, and Coach Madugu will be looking to refine his squad’s attacking efficiency as they inch closer to the continental showdown in Morocco.
