SL Benfica Feminino put the perfect finishing touch on a historic, undefeated 2025/26 Liga BPI campaign, securing a gritty 1-0 away victory against Rio Ave on Sunday afternoon.
The triumph puts an exclamation mark on a breathtaking season that saw the Eagles capture their sixth consecutive Portuguese national title without tasting defeat a single time.
Pauleta Breaks the Deadlock
In a tightly contested affair at the Estádio do Rio Ave Futebol Clube, the breakthrough finally arrived in the 78th minute. Substitute Pauleta stepped up and calmly dispatched a penalty to break Rio Ave’s stubborn resistance, securing all three points for the champions.
The victory rounds out Benfica’s sensational league record:
- Matches Played: 18
- Wins: 15
- Draws: 3
- Losses: 0
- Total Points: 48
Ucheibe Anchors the Invincible Defence
At the heart of Benfica’s final-day shutout was Nigerian international Christy Ucheibe. Deployed at centre-back alongside Beatriz Cameirão, the 25-year-old Super Falcons star put on a defensive masterclass.
Playing the full 90 minutes, Ucheibe was instrumental in neutralising Rio Ave’s attack. Graphics shared by Nigerian media outlet EaglesTracker highlighted her disciplined performance, showcasing her dominance in aerial duels and her composure in building play from the back. It was a classic, no-nonsense defender’s performance that ensured Benfica’s league-best defence remained unbreached.
Head coach Ivan Baptista rotated his squad during the match but kept Ucheibe on the pitch for the duration, underscoring her status as the defensive anchor of the team.
SL Benfica Starting XI: Thaís Lima (Michaely Bihina 72’), Marit Lund (Catarina Amado 46’), Beatriz Cameirão, Caroline Møller (Pauleta 62’), Letícia Almeida, Christy Ucheibe, Diana Silva (Cristina Prieto 62’), Chandra Davidson, Ana Clara Oliveira, Inês Meninas (Rakel Engesvik 72′), and Neide Guedes.
Six of the Best for the Super Falcons Star
For Ucheibe, this latest triumph cemented her legacy in Lisbon. Since joining Benfica in 2020, the defensive midfielder-turned-defender has played a pivotal role in all six of the club’s consecutive league titles (2020/21 to 2025/26).
At just 25 years old, she has firmly established herself as one of the most decorated and successful Nigerian exports in European women’s football history. Her sustained excellence in Portugal is also a massive boost for Nigeria’s Super Falcons, reinforcing her status as one of Africa’s premier defensive talents.
Eyes on the Double
While the league campaign is wrapped up, Benfica’s hunt for silverware is not yet over.
Coach Baptista’s side will look to complete a domestic double when they face rivals FC Porto in the Portuguese Cup final. The blockbuster clash is scheduled for May 17 at the Estádio Nacional, with kick-off set for 5:15 PM.
