The much-anticipated international friendly between Nigeria’s Super Falcons and Cameroon’s Lionesses has been cancelled due to the late arrival of the Cameroonian team, PUNCH Online reports.

Originally scheduled for Saturday, June 1, at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, the first leg of the two-match series was expected to mark the Falcons’ first outing since their narrow defeat to France in November 2023. However, the Cameroonian delegation’s delayed arrival on Friday night derailed the fixture.

“The late arrival, attributed to travel hitches from their country to Ikenne, disrupted both the Lionesses’ recovery schedule and the matchday protocols required for such an international fixture,” the report noted.

With the disruption, only one leg of the friendly will now be played. The second fixture, initially billed for Monday, June 3, at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, has been brought forward to Sunday, June 2, at the same venue.

Despite the setback, both teams will still have the chance to face off ahead of their upcoming competitions.

For the Super Falcons, the friendly match is an essential part of their preparations for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

Nigeria remains the continent’s most successful women’s team, boasting nine WAFCON titles and semi-final appearances in every edition since 1991.

Cameroon, on the other hand, did not qualify for the upcoming tournament but remains a well-known rival. “Although the rivalry has heavily favoured Nigeria in recent years, the Lionesses have failed to score in any of their last six meetings and have not registered a victory against the Falcons since 2012,” the report added.

The single-leg fixture on Sunday now takes on added importance for both squads as they continue their preparations for future tournaments.