Nigeria's Super Falcons secured a convincing 2-0 victory over Cameroon's Indomitable Lionesses in an international friendly match played at the Moshood Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta on Tuesday.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade emerged as the hero of the day, netting both goals for the nine-time African champions in what proved to be a dominant display against their continental rivals.
Madugu Praises Team Performance
Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu expressed satisfaction with his team's performance while acknowledging that preparations for the upcoming tournament are still ongoing.
"I want to appreciate the players for their performance this evening," Madugu said after the match. "For us, it is still a work in progress, we are still trying to put our preparations together, but we must commend the girls for the gallant effort they put in as far as today's game is concerned."
WAFCON 2024 Preparations
The friendly match serves as a crucial part of Nigeria's preparations for the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) scheduled to take place in July. The Super Falcons, as nine-time champions of the tournament, are looking to claim their 10th continental title.
Prior to the match, Cameroon's camp had expressed readiness to test their strength against the Super Falcons, with their coach Bawou indicating confidence in his squad's abilities.
Nigerian forward Desire Oparanozie had also anticipated a difficult encounter against the Indomitable Lionesses, who have historically been one of Africa's strongest women's teams.
Building Momentum
The victory will boost the team's confidence as they continue their preparation for the continental showpiece. Former Super Falcons star Francisca Ordega has already backed the team to secure their 10th WAFCON title in the upcoming tournament.
With this win, Coach Madugu's side has demonstrated their readiness to compete at the highest level, though the technical team will likely continue to fine-tune tactics and team selection in the weeks leading up to the tournament.
The Super Falcons remain Africa's most successful women's national team, and this victory against fellow continental powerhouse Cameroon sends a strong message to other competitors ahead of WAFCON 2024.
