National Teams
EXC: Withdrawal fears averted as Cameroon seek to honour Super Falcons’ doubleheader
By Samuel Ahmadu
Cameroon’s senior women’s national team is finally scheduled to arrive in Nigeria on Friday ahead of a high-profile two-match international friendly series against the country’s senior women’s national team.
Sources close to the Cameroonian team confirmed that travel arrangements were finalised late Thursday evening, with no fewer than 19 players, including overseas-based and others from the domestic Guinness Super League, receiving their flight tickets around 5:00 p.m. same day.
The delegation, earlier scheduled to arrive on Thursday, is now expected to touch down in Lagos by Friday evening and will move immediately to their reserved accommodation at Am2pm in Ijebu-Ode.
The friendlies come after weeks of uncertainty stemming from internal administrative issues within the Cameroonian football federation.
However, those concerns have now been reportedly resolved, clearing the path for the Indomitable Lionesses to honor the fixtures.
The two-match series forms part of Nigeria’s build-up to the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, where the Super Falcons will be gunning for a record-extending tenth continental title in what will be their 13th consecutive appearance at the tournament.
Cameroon, on the other hand, will be using the games to begin early preparations for the 2026 WAFCON qualifiers, after missing out for the first time in their history on this year’s edition.
For the Super Falcons, who are chasing a record-extending 10th continental title at their 13th consecutive WAFCON, the friendlies offer both a competitive test and a chance to fine-tune tactics.
The upcoming matches will also rekindle one of African women’s football’s fiercest rivalries. The Super Falcons and the Indomitable Lionesses have clashed 20 times in competitive and friendly encounters, with Nigeria holding a commanding advantage.
The nine-time African champions are dominating the head-to-head record with 14 wins, while their Central African rivals have managed to defeat the West Africans just three times, while three encounters have ended in draws.
In recent years, Nigeria has continued to assert their superiority, winning eight of the last eleven meetings, including key matches in WAFCON finals and Olympic qualifiers.
The friendly series also offers both teams a chance to test their depth and readiness. For Nigeria, it’s another opportunity to reinforce their dominance over Cameroon and fine-tune their squad ahead of the Olympics and WAFCON.
For Cameroon, the matches offer a platform to rebuild and challenge the status quo.
Kickoff for the first game is scheduled for Saturday, with the second leg likely to follow early next week, June 3.
Venues are Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne for the first leg and MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta for the second, while Team 33 Production are expected to broadcast the match through the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) TV.
