Super Falcons forward, Toni Payne, has expressed her delight after ending a near five-year goal drought for the Nigerian women’s national team in Friday’s 2–1 friendly win over Senegal women’s national football team in Ikenne, Ogun State.
The tune-up match saw the Nigeria women’s national football team claim victory thanks to goals from Asisat Oshoala and Payne.
Oshoala gave Nigeria the lead from the penalty spot before Payne doubled the advantage, sending the reigning African champions into the halftime break with a 2–0 cushion.
Senegal pulled one back in the second half, but the Super Falcons managed the game to secure the win.
Speaking after the match, Payne said in the post-match presser, “I’m happy to score (for the Falcons) after almost five years so just really good to do it here in Nigeria.”
Both sides will meet again in a second friendly on Monday at the same venue in Ikenne, as part of their build-up to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The tournament, Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, will also serve as Africa’s qualifying pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Nigeria are drawn in Group C alongside Zambia, Egypt, and Malawi, with the top four teams expected to qualify directly for the World Cup, while two additional sides will progress to inter-confederation playoffs.
