BREAKING: Cameroon’s late arrival forces one-leg friendly with Nigeria on Monday

By Samuel Ahmadu

The international women’s friendly between Nigeria’s Super Falcons and Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses has been reduced to a single-leg match, now scheduled to take place on Monday, June 2, at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.

The fixture was originally planned as a two-match series, with games in Ikenne and Abeokuta. However, due to logistical delays affecting the Cameroonian team’s arrival, the series has been condensed into one match.

The Cameroonian delegation — initially expected in Nigeria on Thursday — is now set to arrive in Lagos on Saturday morning, after finalizing travel arrangements late Thursday.

The squad comprises 24 players, drawn from both overseas clubs and the domestic Guinness Super League, who will proceed directly to their base in Ijebu-Ode upon arrival.

Despite the adjustment, the friendly remains a key part of Nigeria’s build-up to the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, where the Super Falcons will be aiming for a record-extending 10th continental title in their 13th consecutive tournament appearance.

For Cameroon, the match offers a valuable opportunity to begin early preparations for the 2026 WAFCON qualifiers, following their historic failure to qualify for this year’s tournament — the first such miss in the nation’s history.

Internal administrative issues within the Cameroonian Football Federation had threatened their participation, but those have now been resolved.

The match will rekindle a storied rivalry in African women’s football. Nigeria holds a dominant record with 14 wins from 20 encounters, while Cameroon has recorded three wins, and three matches have ended in draws.

The Super Falcons have won eight of the last eleven meetings, including crucial WAFCON finals and Olympic qualifiers.