The Super Falcons of Nigeria defeated Senegal in a friendly match on Friday in Ikenne, and head coach Justin Madugu has shared an honest evaluation of the fixture, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 10-time Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) champions secured a 2-1 victory over their West African counterparts, courtesy of goals from Asisat Oshoala and Toni Payne.
Nigeria dominated proceedings for the majority of the encounter, only facing pressure in the closing stages as the Teranga Lionesses pushed for an equalizer.
While the Super Falcons are widely considered as the best team on the continent, the match proved more competitive than some might have anticipated.
Although Nigeria were expected to dominate thoroughly, Senegal showed resilience, and managed to avoid conceding more that twice. But ultimately, Coach Madugu achieved his objectives for the fixture.
What Justin Madugu Said About the Super Falcons' Win
Following the victory, Justin Madugu admitted that there is still significant work to be done. Nonetheless, he noted that the primary objective of the game was to evaluate new talent and identify the best squad depth ahead of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations.
”It’s a good result, and naturally, when you play any game, you always want to win,” Madugu told official54fx.
”This is a preparatory game, and the aim is to assess our readiness, test the strategies we want to execute in the competition, and give players the opportunity to showcase what they can do to provide us with more options.
”These are the matches we use to identify which players are fully ready for the WAFCON. It was not a bad game for us, but as you know, there is always room for improvement.
”Yes, we did well, but we know there is still a lot of work to be done.”
Following this 2-1 win, the Super Falcons are set for a rematch this Monday. Madugu will be expected to guide the team to another victory as they continue their preparations.
