By Victor Kanayo
Nigeria on Monday night ended their friendly encounter with Portugal in a goalless draw in a 2024 WAFCON warm-up in Lisbon.
Both sides created chances in the first half but were poor in front of goal.
Nnadozie Saving Reflexes
Reigning Africa’s best goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, had a game to remember forever as the Nigerian side provided both flair and steel performance.
The nine-time African champions, aspiring boldly for a 10th title, only arrived in Portugal less than 24 hours before the encounter, but advertised no signs of fatigue or lassitude as they stood up to the Portuguese in a game that indicated readiness to battle for the continental crown in Morocco.
The Sterling Action
A back pass by Christy Ucheibe allowed Diana Silva sight of the Nigeria goal in the 6th minute, but her shot spurned the ball away from goal.
In the 9th minute, Nnadozie plucked the ball off the air from a pull-out, and at the other end, the fabulous Francisca Ordega cut into the box and found captain Rasheedat Ajibade, whose smart turn and shot nearly wrong-footed goalkeeper Ines Pereira.
Nnadozie pulled off another epic save in the 24th minute, and as the home girls launched onslaught after onslaught, only Nnadozie’s heroics and stonewall defending by the Falcons kept the scoreline even.
Just before half-time, Nigeria could have taken the lead against the run of play, but Rinsola Babajide overhit the ball from an opportunity that presented itself after Ordega had been foiled with a last-ditch effort.
In the second stanza, Africa’s number one pulled off three world-class saves within a spate of four minutes, denying the dangerous Jessica Silva, Fatima Pinto, and Andreia Norton.
Substitute Options
The injection of Ifeoma Onumonu, Ashleigh Plumptre, and Halimatu Ayinde rejuvenated Nigeria’s game, and as the Falcons took control, Ordega’s brilliant move and pass into the box in the 64th minute went begging.
The Falcons revved the engine to dominate the final 20 minutes, during which the vibrant Ordega rattled the crossbar from distance and Onumonu just fell short of squaring past the goalkeeper from another inspired Ordega cross.
At the end, the Super Falcons gave a good account of themselves, and left the Portuguese fans stunned with an elegant outing at the Estádio José Gomes.
Off to Morocco
The Nigeria contingent will depart from Lisbon for Casablanca on Wednesday, where they will take on Ghana’s Black Queens in another friendly match on Sunday.
Their first match of the 13th Women Africa Cup of Nations comes up on Sunday, 6th July, against Tunisia in Casablanca.
