Keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was outstanding as the Super Falcons held hosts, Portugal to a goalless draw in a pre-WAFCON friendly in Lisbon Monday night, www.aclsports.com reports.
Despite Portugal dominating much of the match with their aggressive pressing tactics and sustained possession, Nigeria managed to stay compact and organized, frustrating the hosts throughout. The draw keeps the Falcons unbeaten in their WAFCON buildup following a 2–0 win over Cameroon earlier this month.
Nigeria came into the match with a short-handed squad, with many players only just arriving from long travels. Still, they dug deep against a technically sound Portuguese side gearing up for the UEFA Women’s Euro. Portugal’s high press often disrupted Nigeria’s rhythm, limiting their ability to build from the back or maintain meaningful possession.
The midfield found it difficult to assert control, particularly in the first half, often overwhelmed by Portugal’s relentless pressing. Possession was lost cheaply in central areas, disrupting Nigeria’s ability to build play or transition effectively. The pressure from the hosts forced several hurried passes and limited Nigeria’s presence in the attacking third, resulting in a disjointed rhythm and limited service to the forwards.
At right-back, 20-year-old Shukurat Oladipo had a challenging outing in the absence of Mitchel Alozie. While the AS Roma youngster showed flashes of potential, she was frequently troubled by the movement and pace of Portugal’s attackers, particularly Jéssica Silva and Diana Silva, who constantly stretched the Nigerian backline.
But Nigeria had a steady anchor in Nnadozie, who was once again immense between the posts. Now a free agent after leaving Paris FC, the goalkeeper delivered several vital saves that kept Nigeria in the game. Her sharp reflexes, commanding presence, and ability to read the game under pressure were crucial in denying Portugal a breakthrough. Nnadozie’s performance was a key factor in securing the clean sheet and maintaining Nigeria’s unbeaten run in their WAFCON preparations.
The Super Falcons, though far from fluid, nearly stole the win in the 79th minute when Francisca Ordega attempted a bold strike from distance after spotting the Portuguese goalkeeper off her line, only to be denied by the crossbar.
One major boost for the Falcons was the return of Ashleigh Plumptre, who made her first appearance after missing several national team outings, including the Paris Olympic qualifiers, due to injury. Her presence brought added stability and experience to the defence, and her return will be a welcome development as Nigeria looks to tighten up at the back heading into the tournament.
While it wasn’t a vintage attacking display, coach Justine Madugu will take positives from the team’s resilience and ability to grind out a result under difficult conditions. With questions remaining about squad cohesion and execution in the final third, the Falcons still have work to do before their WAFCON opener against Tunisia on July 6 in Casablanca.
Their final warm-up match comes next Sunday, June 29, against the Black Queens of Ghana, a familiar rival and a final test of readiness ahead of their quest for a record-extending 10th continental title.
