Nigeria’s Super Falcons will intensify their preparations for the 2025 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with a high-profile international friendly against Portugal in Lisbon on Monday, June 23, 2025.
The fixture, confirmed by the Portuguese Football Federation, will kick off at 1:00 PM local time and forms part of a crucial European training camp for the Nigerian squad.
As part of the week-long camp, the nine-time African champions will face Portugal twice, with one of the matches officially sanctioned by FIFA. The friendlies will allow head coach Justin Madugu and his technical crew to evaluate squad cohesion, fitness levels, and tactical execution ahead of the tournament’s kickoff on July 5 in Morocco.
The training camp falls within the FIFA international match window (June 23 – July 5), ensuring full player availability, including Europe-based stars. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) strategically planned the camp in Europe to provide high-level preparation and exposure to elite opposition.
Drawn in Group B, Nigeria will face Tunisia, Algeria, and Botswana in the WAFCON group stage. The Super Falcons aim to reclaim the title they last lifted in 2018, and expectations are high given the team’s storied continental legacy.
Before heading to Portugal, the Super Falcons will play two warm-up matches against Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses — first on Saturday, May 31, at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, and again on Tuesday, June 3, at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.
Coach Madugu has invited 23 players for the Cameroonian clashes, including captain Rasheedat Ajibade, first-choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defenders Michelle Alozie and Osinachi Ohale, midfielders Toni Payne, Deborah Abiodun, and Jennifer Echegini, and forwards Rinsola Babajide and Francisca Ordega — the latter making a return after a lengthy absence.
All players are expected to report to camp at the Am2pm Hotel in Ijebu-Ode on Monday, May 26.
With a potent blend of experience and emerging talent, the Super Falcons are ramping up their build-up to WAFCON 2025, and the upcoming friendlies will play a vital role in defining the team’s shape and strategy for the continental showdown in Morocco.
