Nigeria’s Super Falcons will step up their preparations for the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with a two-match friendly series against Cameroon in Yaoundé, as the countdown to Morocco intensifies.
The Nigerian Football Federation has confirmed that the nine-time African champions will travel to the Cameroonian capital this week for a double-header against the Indomitable Lionesses, offering head coach Justine Madugu a final opportunity to assess his squad against elite continental opposition.
With the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations due to kick off in Morocco in a matter of weeks, the title holders have opted for competitive match practice rather than extended training camps alone.
The two friendlies are scheduled for Saturday and the following Tuesday, forming the core of the Super Falcons’ final build-up phase.
Madugu will depart Abuja accompanied by his technical team and locally based players, including Anderline Mgbechi and Fatima Oloko.
The foreign-based contingent is expected to link up directly with the squad in Yaoundé from their respective clubs, completing the full roster shortly before the first fixture.
The staggered arrival reflects the logistical realities of assembling a squad drawn from domestic and international leagues, but once united, preparations will move swiftly.
The fixtures present a meaningful test. Cameroon, long-standing rivals and one of Africa’s most competitive women’s teams, are also preparing for the continental tournament.
The Lionesses began their training camp last week and will use the matches to refine combinations and tactical structure.
Nigeria enter the tournament placed in Group C, where they will face Egypt, Zambia and Malawi. Cameroon have been drawn in Group D alongside Ghana, Cape Verde and Mali.
For Madugu, the double-header offers clarity ahead of squad selection and tactical decisions.
Nigeria have enjoyed a period of rebuilding and consolidation since the last edition of the tournament, and the coaching staff will use the Cameroon matches to fine-tune defensive organisation, midfield cohesion and attacking transitions.
The Super Falcons remain one of the most decorated teams in African women’s football, but competition across the continent has intensified in recent years.
With Zambia and Ghana among emerging challengers, Nigeria are keen to ensure they arrive in Morocco fully prepared.
These two fixtures in Yaoundé will provide more than fitness assessments — they represent a high-intensity rehearsal against a familiar rival, as both nations seek to sharpen their competitive edge before Africa’s premier women’s tournament begins.
SOURCE: CAF ONLINE
