National Teams
NFF in late scramble as Cape Verde pulls out of Super Falcons friendly
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been forced into a late search for a replacement opponent following the sudden withdrawal of Cape Verdean Football Federation from a planned international friendly against the Super Falcons this April.
The April 2026 FIFA women’s international window runs from 7–18 April 2026, with the African champions hoping to step up their preparation to defend the title in Morocco in July after recent clashes with Cameroon but now very unliikely following latest setback.
Sources within the NFF confirmed that preparations were already at an advanced stage, with invited players scheduled to enter camp, before Cape Verde communicated its decision to cancel the trip to Nigeria at the eleventh hour.
The two sides last met during the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in late 2023, where Nigeria secured a 2-1 away victory before sealing qualification with a dominant 5-0 win at home—part of their run to a record-extending 10th continental title in Morocco.
Despite full assurances from the NFF, a senior official within the Cape Verde camp, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said the decision to withdraw was unwarranted.
“It was a very difficult call for us. There were internal challenges, mainly technical, 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.”
However, another source close to the Cape Verde setup revealed that technical crew concerns also influenced the late withdrawal, with concerns over a potentially heavy defeat playing a role after initial arrangements had already been concluded between both federations.
The development has disrupted the Super Falcons’ build-up schedule, with the NFF now urgently exploring alternative opponents to maintain match fitness and team cohesion ahead of upcoming international assignments.
Officials at the Glass House are understood to be reaching out to federations across Africa and beyond in search of a short-notice replacement.
However, the tight window presents a major hurdle, as many national teams are already engaged in scheduled fixtures or training camps.
This latest setback further raises concerns over the planning and coordination of the Falcons’ international calendar, particularly at a crucial stage when consistency in preparation is vital to sustaining Nigeria’s dominance in women’s football on the continent.
Despite the disruption, NFF officials remain cautiously optimistic that a replacement fixture can still be secured, although logistical realities make the prospects increasingly slim.
With limited preparation windows ahead of the next Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 in Morocco, where overseas-based players are expected to be released just days before kickoff, the pressure is mounting to ensure the Super Falcons do not head into the tournament underprepared.
