The Super Falcons commenced their preparations for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with a controlled 2-1 victory over Senegal’s Teranga Lionesses in an international friendly. The match, held on Friday at the Remo Stars Sports Complex in Ikenne, saw goals from veteran forward Asisat Oshoala and Everton midfielder Toni Payne, underscoring Nigeria's dominance throughout much of the encounter under Head Coach Justine Madugu.

Nigeria, the 10-time African champions, took control from the opening whistle, dictating tempo and creating numerous promising opportunities. The breakthrough arrived on the half-hour mark when the Super Falcons were awarded a penalty following sustained pressure on the Senegalese defense for a handball. Asisat Oshoala, making her first appearance for the Super Falcons since the WAFCON 2024 final, calmly converted from the spot in the 32nd minute, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to give Nigeria a deserved lead. Eleven minutes later, Toni Payne, also returning to the national team setup after her last appearance at the WAFCON 2024, doubled the advantage, finishing off a well-worked attacking move just four minutes before the break.

Coach Madugu utilized the friendly to assess his squad, handing goalkeeper Comfort Erhabor her senior Super Falcons debut. Erhabor, the young Portsmouth shot-stopper, was trusted between the posts. The attacking lineup featured Oshoala spearheading alongside Francisca Ordega and Funmilayo Ijamilusi, while captain Rasheedat Ajibade, Christy Ucheibe, and Payne operated in midfield, showcasing the team's depth and experience.

This fixture marked the fourth meeting between Nigeria and Senegal in the last decade, and their first encounter since Nigeria secured a 3-0 friendly victory over the Teranga Lionesses in 2018. Despite some earlier reports, it was not the first-ever meeting between these two nations, rather a continuation of their competitive history.

In the second half, the Super Falcons maintained their organizational discipline, comfortably protecting their lead even as Senegal attempted to reduce the deficit. However, three minutes from time, Senegal managed to pull one back in the 86th minute, denying goalkeeper Erhabor a clean sheet on her debut. Nigeria effectively managed the brief pressure to see out the 2-1 victory. Both teams are set to meet again on Monday, June 8, at the same venue in Ikenne-Remo for a second friendly, continuing their final preparations for the continental tournament.

The Super Falcons, defending champions targeting an 11th continental title, are gearing up for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, which will run from July 26 to August 16. Coach Madugu and his squad are focused on fine-tuning their approach ahead of the tournament in Morocco. Nigeria has been drawn into the group stage alongside Egypt, Malawi, and Zambia, while Senegal faces a challenging pool that includes hosts Morocco, Algeria, and Kenya.