Cape Verde Cancel Friendlies, Ajibade Slams NFF Over Disruption

Nigeria’s women’s national team, the Super Falcons, have been plunged into uncertainty following the withdrawal of Cape Verde from their scheduled international friendly matches. According to Ireporter Online, the fixtures, initially set for April 15 and April 18 at the Remo Stars Stadium, were abruptly called off, leaving the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in a race against time to secure a replacement opponent.

With the international window fast approaching its conclusion, efforts to find another team have reportedly proven difficult, raising concerns over the team’s preparedness. The Super Falcons are expected to converge in Abuja this weekend to begin training ahead of the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, slated to take place from July 26 to August 16 in Morocco. Their last outing was against the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon during the previous international break.

The development has intensified scrutiny on the NFF, particularly after captain Rasheedat Ajibade openly criticised the federation’s level of organization. In a series of posts shared on Instagram, the forward expressed frustration over the lack of official communication regarding camp schedules and confirmed preparatory fixtures for the April window.

Ajibade further fueled the conversation by sharing what appeared to be an unofficial message from an NFF official indicating an April 11 camp resumption date, while questioning why formal updates had not been provided to players. She emphasized the importance of proper preparation, noting that the team is not only competing at the continental tournament but also fighting for qualification to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup through their performance at WAFCON.

The situation gained additional attention after the NFF announced that the Super Eagles would participate in the Unity Cup alongside Jamaica, Zimbabwe, and India between May 26 and May 30 at The Valley Stadium. Shortly after, Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie appeared to react on social media, posting an image of Super Eagles players with a caption that hinted at perceived disparities in planning and communication.

The unfolding developments have sparked wider debate about the federation’s handling of the women’s team, especially at a critical period leading up to a major continental tournament with global qualification implications.