Portugal vs Nigeria: Super Falcons Play Draw in First Friendly Before WAFCON 2025

• The Super Falcons of Nigeria settled for a goalless draw against the Portugal Women's team in Lisbon
• Nigeria were the better side but failed to find the back of the net, missing a couple of great chances
• It was the Falcons’ first friendly match towards the 2025 Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco

The Super Falcons of Nigeria settled for a goalless draw against the Portugal Women's team at the Jose Gomez Stadium in Lisbon.

Nigeria played their first friendly match as they prepared towards the 2025 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2025), scheduled from July 5-26 in Morocco.

The record winners are aiming for their 10th crown dubbed Mission X. If the Falcons win, it would be their first title since beating South Africa in the 2018 edition held in Ghana.

Nigeria played a 0-0 draw with Portugal

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) organised two high-profile friendly matches for the Falcons as preparatory games before their WAFCON opener on July 6.

The Falcons played a goalless draw against Portugal in the first preparatory match and will face eternal rivals Ghana in the second match on Sunday, June 29, 2025.

Madugu opted for a 4-4-2 formation with captain Rasheedat Ajibade and Toni Payne up front; there was no place for six-time Women's Best Asisat Oshoala in the matchday squad.

The former FC Barcelona Femeni forward has been left out of the squad for the previous matches since Madugu took over after the Paris 2024 Olympics, but surprisingly, she made the squad for WAFCON.

Super Falcons starting XI: Nnadozie – Usani (Plumptre 60), Oladipo, Ohale, Demehin – Ucheibe, Echegini (Ayinde 60), Babajide (Onumonu 60), Ordega (Sikiratu Isah 88), Payne – Ajibade (C)

Nigeria were the better side against Portugal, but neither side could break the deadlock. The women were resolute in defence in the first half and brilliant in attack in the second.

The best chance of the evening fell to Francisca Ordega. She saw the Portuguese goalkeeper off her line in the 80th minute, but her attempt came off the crossbar.

The Falcons will fly out of Lisbon to Casablanca on Wednesday, where they will take on the Black Queens of Ghana in their second friendly before the tournament.

Nigeria were drawn in Group B alongside North Africans Tunisia and Algeria, with Botswana completing the group. The nine-time women's champions will open their campaign against Tunisia on July 6.

Four days later, they will take on Botswana before wrapping up their group stage campaign against Algeria on July 13, while Botswana and Tunisia will play at the same time.

Peller supports Mission X

Legit.ng reported that Nigerian TikTok influencer Peller backed Super Falcons to win their 10th WAFCON title in Morocco, a campaign dubbed as Mission X.

Nigeria have dominated the tournament, winning nine out of 12 editions, and the 19-year-old streamer, who is a fan of striker Asisat Oshoala, has rallied support for the Nigerian women from the fans.

Source: Legit.ng