Nigeria were dominant for long periods in Ikenne, with Asisat Oshoala converting from the spot and Toni Payne finishing from inside the box as the Super Falcons put down a firm marker three weeks before WAFCON 2026 begins.
International Friendly | Remo Stars Sports Complex, Ikenne | June 5, 2026
Nigeria’s Super Falcons warmed up for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with a commanding 2-1 victory over Senegal in a friendly at the Remo Stars Sports Complex in Ikenne on Friday, FootballInNigeria.com.ng reports. Goals from Asisat Oshoala and Toni Payne gave Justine Madugu’s side a thoroughly deserved win in a match they controlled from the first whistle, with a late Senegal consolation doing little to diminish the Super Falcons’ display.
The result extended Nigeria’s strong record against Senegal. It was the two sides’ fourth meeting in the last decade, and the Super Falcons have not lost any of them. Their most recent previous encounter was an even more emphatic 3-0 win for Nigeria in 2018. The Teranga Lionesses never looked like replicating that kind of performance, instead spending the majority of the game defending deep and hoping for a moment of quality on the counter. They got one in the dying minutes to make the score 2-1, but by then the game was long decided. Fans who want to back the Super Falcons at WAFCON 2026 can use the Bet9ja YOHAIG welcome bonus when tournament markets open in July.
Team News: Erhabor’s Debut and a Familiar Front Line
Madugu made one selection that will have drawn particular attention. Comfort Erhabor, the Portsmouth goalkeeper, was handed her senior Super Falcons debut between the posts, trusted with the gloves ahead of the WAFCON campaign. The young shot-stopper had a reasonably calm evening until Senegal’s late consolation three minutes from time denied her a clean sheet on her first international appearance, but her overall performance commanding under crosses, composed with her feet justified Madugu’s decision to give her the experience of a senior cap in a low-stakes environment before the tournament starts.
In front of her, captain Rasheedat Ajibade, Christy Ucheibe, and Toni Payne formed the midfield. Up front, Oshoala led the line alongside Francisca Ordega and Funmilayo Ijamilusi. The starting lineup was recognisably Madugu’s best available combination, and the team played like it structured, purposeful, and physically dominant against a Senegal side that came to frustrate rather than compete openly.
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How the Goals Went In
Oshoala and Ijamilusi both came close in an opening period where Nigeria dominated without converting. The breakthrough finally came shortly after the hour mark when the referee spotted a handball inside the Senegal area and pointed to the spot. Oshoala stepped up, sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, and rolled the ball low into the corner to give Nigeria the lead they had been earning since the first minute.
Payne doubled the advantage four minutes before half-time in a way that was almost straightforward. A corner was swung in, Senegal failed to organise their defensive line, and the Everton midfielder was left completely unmarked inside the box. She took one touch and struck a low effort beyond the goalkeeper to make it 2-0, and Nigeria went in at the interval with full control of the match. Senegal’s only contribution to the scoreline came with three minutes remaining in normal time, a goal that was largely academic by then.
WAFCON 2026: What the Result Means
Nigeria go into the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations as defending champions, holders of a record 10 continental titles, and now with a confidence building win against an opponent they will not face in the group stage. The tournament begins on July 26 and runs until August 16 in Morocco. Madugu’s side are drawn in a group alongside Egypt, Malawi, and Zambia a section Nigeria should be expected to win, setting up potential knockout stage clashes with the stronger sides in the other groups.
Senegal have a tougher path through the group stage, drawn alongside hosts Morocco, Algeria, and Kenya. The Teranga Lionesses will have drawn something useful from Friday’s game too, even in defeat. Both sides meet again on Monday in the second of two arranged friendlies, giving Madugu a final chance to fine-tune his squad before the tournament begins. For Nigerian football supporters, the ability to watch and wager on the Super Falcons’ WAFCON campaign from July 26 is available now via today’s Bet9ja promo code page.
Toni Payne’s goal gave her an international contribution to match her WSL form, where she has registered two assists for Everton in the 2025/26 season as the only Nigerian competing in the Barclays Women’s Super League. Her career six years at Sevilla in Spain, a move to the WSL, and regular Super Falcons service represents exactly the kind of profile Madugu wants seeding through his midfield as the team defends their WAFCON crown.
📌 Did You Know?
- Comfort Erhabor, who made her senior Super Falcons debut in this match, plays club football for Portsmouth in England. Portsmouth were promoted to the Championship in 2024/25 and Erhabor was one of the standout performers in their goalkeeper department during that campaign.
- Toni Payne was born in Birmingham, Alabama, USA, to Nigerian parents and represented the United States at under-23 level before switching her international allegiance to Nigeria. She made her Super Falcons debut in February 2021 and is currently the only Nigerian player in the Barclays Women’s Super League.
- Asisat Oshoala is now based in Saudi Arabia after joining Al Hilal, making her one of a growing number of high profile women’s internationals who have taken up contracts in the Saudi Women’s Premier League as investment in that competition has increased.
- The Remo Stars Sports Complex in Ikenne, Ogun State, is the home ground of NPFL club Remo Stars. Its use as a venue for a Super Falcons friendly reflects the NFF’s effort to take national team matches outside Lagos and Abuja to build grassroots connection with the game across Nigeria.
- Nigeria’s WAFCON 2026 group Egypt, Malawi, and Zambia is one of the weaker pools in the tournament. Egypt are historically the closest rival to Nigeria in women’s football on the continent, but Malawi and Zambia have never won the competition and would represent among Nigeria’s most comfortable group-stage opponents.
- Toni Payne played all three of Nigeria’s matches at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, including the round of 16 loss to England at Stadium Australia in Brisbane. That defeat came in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw.
- Nigeria have won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations a record 11 times, with their most recent title coming in 2025 in Morocco. They are bidding to become the first team to successfully defend the WAFCON title since they did so themselves in 2006 and 2010.
