Bragging rights at stake as Super Falcons clash with Indomitable Lionesses 

By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No.1 Women Football Journalist

Tomorrow in the tranquil town of Ikenne, Remo Division of Ogun state, two old foes in women’s  football contest in Africa, Nigeria, and Cameroon will once again trade tackles in an international friendly match slated for Remo Stars FC Stadium in Ikenne-Remo.

Despite being a friendly match, individual clout and national pride are set to be tested to the limit again tomorrow because Africa’s most successful national women’s team, Super Falcons, will like to maintain her dominance against arch-rivals Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in the first match of the double-header friendlies between the two neighbouring countries.

The ‘Two-Nation Showdown’ organised by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is part of Super Falcons’ preparations for the 15th Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2024, holding in the North African country of Morocco from July 5 to 26, 2025.

Also, the Cameroonians who are not participating in the upcoming biggest women’s football tournament in Africa organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Morocco, are, however, using the two matches against Falcons to prepare ahead of their 16th CAF WAFCON 2026 qualifying matches later in the year.

For the above reasons, the match on Saturday at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo will not be purely friendly after all as both teams will strive to make a good impression by going all out to win the tie to prove a point.

The last time they met on February 26,2024, in the Paris 2024 Olympics women’s football, African qualifiers return leg match at Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Nigeria beat Cameroon by a lone goal to qualify for the Olympic Games. Both countries had played out a barren draw in the first leg tie at Stade de la Reunification in Douala, Cameroon, a few days earlier.

Interestingly, Nigeria and Cameroon know each other very well as they have clashed several times in women’s football contest dating back to June 15, 1991when the Super Falcons and Indomitable Lionesses first met in the African qualifiers final round of the the 1st FIFA Women’s World Cup in China in 1991. Two late minutes goals by vice captain Nkiru Doris Okosieme and defender Ngozi Ezeocha ensured Nigeria beat Cameroon 2-0 at National Stadium Surulere, Lagos.

The all-conquering Super Falcons (1991-2000 Set) were even more dangerous away as they went to Omnisport Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde two weeks later to thrash the Lionesses 4-0 with Okosieme scoring a brace and Rita Nwadike and then Africa’s Top Goalscorer Eucharia Uche scoring a goal each to help Nigeria qualify for the maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup final in China on 6-0 aggregate.

Since then, Nigeria has inflicted many defeats on Cameroon, including the 6-0 massacre at Ranch Bees stadium on Tuesday,  October 27, 1998, in the semi-final match of the maiden Africa Women Championship (AWC) which has been renamed WAFCON by CAF.

In fact, the Super Falcons and the Indomitable Lionesses have clashed no fewer than 20 times in competitive and friendly duels, with Nigeria holding a commanding advantage of 14 victories as against Cameroon’s miserable three wins while three encounters between Nigeria and Cameroon have ended in draws.

The nine-time African champions with a  dominating head-to-head record over Cameroon have in recent years continued to assert her superiority, winning eight of the last 11 encounters involving the two nations across all competitions, including key matches in WAFCON finals and Olympic Games African qualifying matches.

Fast forward, at WAFCON 2022 in Morocco, Nigeria eliminated Cameroon in the quarter-final stage courtesy of Rasheedat Ajibade stunning header in the 58th minute to  ensure that Nigeria defeated Cameroon 1-0 to qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand.

Also, in 2018 WAFCON in Ghana, Nigeria edged out Cameroon in the semi-final stage and went ahead to beat South Africa in the final to lift the coveted trophy, the last time Super Falcons won the African title.

However, after series of heartbreaking loses to Nigeria, Cameroon in October 22, 2011 also took her own pound of flesh by stopping Nigeria from qualifying for the London 2012 Olympic Games after the Super Falcons were eliminated on 3-4 goals aggregate via penalties at Omnisport Ahmadou Ahidjo  in Yaoundé.

The first leg at Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja on August 27 had ended 2-1 in favour of Nigeria and the return leg two weeks later in Yaoundé also ended 1-2 as both countries were tied on 3-3 aggregate at full time. Cameroon defeated Nigeria 4-3 in the ensuing penalty shootout which was played under poorly lit Omnisport  Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé despite the protest of the Nigerian delegation that the floodlights at the stadium were not functioning.

Despite having a better head-to-head record against their fierce rivals, Super Falcons should watch it as the Cameroonians pose a threat anytime, anyday, hence Super Falcons head coach Justin Madugu and his assistants Ann Agumanu-Chiejine, and goalkeeper coach, Awwal Makwalla should watch it “before water go pass garri” as we say in local parlance.

This is even as this Super Falcons struggled against Indomitable Lionesses last year under former gaffer, and United States-born Randy Waldrum, who found it difficult to outwit the coach Jean-Baptiste Bisseck who is also confident of the ability of his Lionesses to turn the table against the nine-time African champions this time around.

Jean-Baptiste Bisseck is coming to Nigeria with Cameroon’s best legs who are doing well in their various clubs in Cameroon and overseas. In the team to play against Super Falcons are ever-reliable attacking midfielder Nchout Njoya Ajara, reliable captain  Aboudi Gabrielle Onguéné and 22 other players he selected for the country’s last friendly match against Morocco on April 8, 2025 in Casablanca.

The Indomitable Lionesses defeated the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco in the battle of the lionesses last April, and Bisseck who believes in the old doctrine of “not changing the winning team” is said to be banking on the experience the squad got from the Grade A international friendly match against the current second best national women’s team in Africa (Morocco) to be able to navigate the part to victories over Nigeria when Cameroon meets their arch-rivals on Saturday and Tuesday next week respectively.

This writer exclusively reported a fortnight ago  that coach Bisseck penciled down the names of two goalkeepers for the yet to be released squad list, namely Cathy Biya who plays for Getafe Féminine in Spain and Ange Gabriel Bawou from BIIK Kazygurt women’s club in Kazakhstan for the trip to Nigeria.

Also, in the list are no fewer than seven defenders, including experienced backliners- Meffometou Tcheno Falone and Colette Ndzana, who will be joined by five other defenders for the double-header international friendlies against Super Falcons of Nigeria.

Yet, midfielders, Monique Ngock Omboudou and Brigitte, are on the list along with six other players for the trip to Nigeria, while the attack will be well organised with Ajara and captain Onguéné. The squad also includes several new faces, notably Ndjoah Eto Naomi Leslie of Guingamp Féminine in France, the 2024 Women’s Ballon d’Or winner.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after sealing a strategic football partnership with the Ogun state government two weeks ago in Abeokuta, has decided that the Super Falcons will play the two friendly matches against Cameroon on Saturday, May 31 at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo while the second match will hold on Tuesday, June 3 at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.