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Super Falcons Hit by Late Friendly Cancellation as NFF Scrambles for Replacement
The Nigeria Football Federation has been forced into a last-minute search for a new opponent after the Cape Verdean Football Federation abruptly withdrew from a scheduled international friendly against the Nigeria women’s national football team this April.
The April 2026 FIFA women’s international window, running from 7–18 April, was expected to provide a crucial opportunity for the African champions to fine-tune preparations ahead of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 in July. The Falcons had been building momentum following recent encounters with Cameroon, making the fixture a key part of their competitive schedule.
However, plans were thrown into disarray after Cape Verde communicated its decision to cancel the trip to Nigeria at the eleventh hour—despite advanced preparations already underway. Invited players had been scheduled to report to camp before the sudden withdrawal.
The two teams last met during the qualifiers for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria asserted dominance with a 2–1 away victory followed by a resounding 5–0 win at home. That campaign culminated in Nigeria securing a record-extending 10th continental title.
According to a senior official within the Cape Verde camp, the decision to withdraw was driven by unavoidable internal challenges.
“It was a very difficult call for us. There were internal challenges, mainly logistical and administrative, that made the trip to Nigeria unfeasible at this time. We understand the importance of the fixture, but we could not guarantee the level of organisation and preparation required.”
Further insights from sources close to the team suggest that technical concerns may also have influenced the decision, including fears of a potentially heavy defeat despite prior agreements between both federations.
The disruption now leaves the NFF racing against time to secure a replacement opponent. Officials are reportedly reaching out to federations across Africa and beyond, but the tight international window presents a significant obstacle, with many teams already committed to fixtures or training camps.
This setback has raised fresh concerns about the coordination of the Falcons’ international calendar, especially at a critical stage in their build-up to Morocco 2026. With limited preparation windows and overseas-based players expected to join camp only days before kickoff, maintaining match sharpness and team cohesion is becoming increasingly challenging.
Despite the difficulties, NFF officials remain cautiously optimistic that a replacement fixture can still be arranged—though time is rapidly running out.
