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Nigeria will face Senegal in two international friendly matches next month as part of their build-up to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Footynaija reports.
The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed that both games will take place in Ikenne on June 5 and June 8 during the FIFA international window. The fixtures offer the Super Falcons a rare chance to test themselves after a disrupted preparation schedule that has left their build-up far from smooth.
Head coach Justine Madugu has been trying to assemble a steady run of matches for his squad, but several planned fixtures have fallen through.
Earlier this year, Nigeria were expected to compete in a WAFU B four-nation tournament in Abidjan alongside Senegal, Ghana and Ivory Coast. However, the event was cancelled due to organisational and logistical challenges.
A proposed friendly against Jamaica in the United Kingdom also collapsed after the Caribbean side withdrew, leaving Nigeria without another key warm-up opportunity.
So far in 2026, the Super Falcons have played only a double-header against Cameroon in March, losing the first match 1-0 before winning the return leg 3-1. That limited game time has raised concerns about sharpness compared to rivals such as South Africa, Zambia and Egypt, who have enjoyed more consistent preparation schedules.
Madugu has previously spoken about the difficulty of securing opponents, suggesting that some teams agree to talks before pulling out later in negotiations.
Nigeria’s status as 10-time African champions is believed to be a factor, with some nations reportedly unwilling to risk heavy defeats ahead of major tournaments.
Despite the setbacks, the Senegal fixtures bring a familiar edge. The two sides last met at senior competitive level during 2016 WAFCON qualification, when Nigeria advanced 3-1 on aggregate after a draw in Dakar and a win in Abuja. The Super Falcons remain unbeaten against Senegal at senior level.
Both teams head into WAFCON 2026 in different groups, but the matches in Ikenne are expected to give Nigeria a crucial opportunity to rebuild rhythm ahead of a demanding campaign that also carries World Cup qualification stakes.
