The Super Falcons of Nigeria were back on the grass less than 24 hours after their shock 1-0 defeat to Cameroon, determined to steady the ship ahead of Tuesday’s return friendly in Yaoundé.

Mbomezomo Yvana’s stoppage-time strike at the Military Stadium on Saturday ended Nigeria’s eight-game unbeaten run against the Indomitable Lionesses.

It also handed the nine-time African champions their first loss in 90 minutes to an African side since the third-place play-off defeat to Zambia at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

Training resumed on Sunday at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, where the Falcons are plotting a sharper response in the second leg of the double-header.

Head coach Justine Madugu fielded a mix of established names and fresh faces in the first meeting. Whether he reshuffles his pack for Tuesday remains to be seen.

Super Falcons are building towards the 2026 WAFCON in Morocco, where they will defend their crown. They will face Zambia, Egypt and debutants Malawi in Group C.

The campaign kicks off on March 18 in Casablanca. Stakes are high beyond continental pride, with all four semi-finalists guaranteed places at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Madugu, who selected a 25-player squad for the Cameroon friendlies, has been clear about his priorities.

“The key objective is to improve team cohesion and assess new players who can provide additional options before the WAFCON,” he said at Friday’s pre-match press conference.

“What the players do in the game will show their capacity, how they fit into the team and the qualities they bring. We will then determine how best to utilise those attributes to the team’s advantage so that we can have more options in our play.”

Even before the late setback in Yaoundé, the coach had tempered expectations around results.

“Naturally, each time we go out to play any game, whether friendly or competitive, the expectation is to win. That mindset remains within the team. However, winning is not the ultimate goal for us, because the major objective is to assess the players, particularly the new ones, and see what they bring to the team,” he said.