Nine-time African champions, Super Falcons will intensify preparations for their 2022 Women AFCON qualifying fixture against the Black Queens of Ghana when they arrive in camp in Lagos on Sunday.
Nigeria and Ghana clashed in the final match of the inaugural edition of the Women Africa Cup of Nations in 1998, in which the Falcons won 2-0. However, both strong stallions in the African women football race-course have been drawn to play each other for one slot at the next edition to be held in the summer of 2022 in the Kingdom of Morocco.
As part of their preparations for this potentially –explosive qualifying fixture, the Super Falcons featured in the USWNT Summer Series in the United States of America in June, testing their might against Portugal, Jamaica and USA senior women teams, and then featured at the six-nation Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament hosted by the City of Lagos in September. They had earlier taken part in and won all three matches at the Turkish Women’s Cup in Antalya in February.
For the clash with the Black Queens, which the first leg holds at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Wednesday, 20th October, Head Coach Randy Waldrum has invited goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defenders Onome Ebi and Osinachi Ohale, midfielders Rasheedat Ajibade and Regina Otu, forwards Asisat Oshoala (captain), Gift Monday and Vivian Ikechukwu, and 15 others.
There are also defenders Glory Ogbonna, midfielders Rita Chikwelu and Toni Payne and forwards Desire Oparanozie, Uchenna Kanu and Francisca Ordega.
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The return leg is scheduled for Sunday, 24th October in Accra. The winner over two legs will join hosts Morocco and 10 other countries for the 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations next year summer.
ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:
Goalkeepers: Tochukwu Oluehi (Maccabi Kishronot Hadera, Israel); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Yewande Balogun (California Storm, USA)
Defenders: Onome Ebi (Minsk FC, Belarus); Glory Ogbonna (Umea FC, Sweden); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Ayomide Ojo (Edo Queens); Rafiat Imuran (Rivers Angels); Opeyemi Sunday (Edo Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Rivers Angels); Akudo Ogbonna (Edo Queens)
Midfielders: Rita Chikwelu (Madrid CFF, Spain); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Toni Oyedupe Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (Minsk FC, Belarus); Goodness Onyebuchi (Edo Queens); Joy Bokiri (AIK FC, Sweden)
Forwards: Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain); Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Gift Monday (FC Robo Queens); Uchenna Kanu (Linkopings FC, Sweden); Desire Oparanozie (Dijon FC, France); Vivian Ikechukwu (Rivers Angels)
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COMMENTS
What is CAF up to.Drawing Nigeria and Ghana is like Drawing Brazil and Argentina in south American qualifiers. I know they are now using zonal qualifications method to give all the zones an equal chance of representation in the finals but this complete nonsense because it will end up lowering the quality of teams in the competition. It is therefore pertinent for CAF to revert to the old format to foster development of the game in the continent as well as present quality games to fans in the finals.
That’s how they shine in photo, gonna those days Nigerian ladies are feared, only few weeks ago and with all the hypes they were wiped by Banana bayana. That oshaola must sit up. Even with gana, we arent sure. God is helping Nigeria ladies, name anyway.
I can’t wait to see our ladies in action again. Go and make us proud Super Falcons. Yes you can do it ladies. God bless Nigeria!!!
The Team did not have good midfield at the just concluded Aisha Buhari’s cup. I hope they have found a way to rectify that problem.
Bro, trust me it has now been fixed. The return of Ajibade & Payne to the team solves that problem. They are our best players. Had they been available for the Aisha Buhari Cup nobody will be talking about that South African girl – Kgatlana.
We lost to the same South Africans in the last AWCON group stages and almost lost to them in the final too. Its not about certain individuals not being present. Its about our inability to handle the pace at which the SAan orchestrate their play. If we keep doing the same things we are doing now, 9 out of 10 time we play then we wouldnt still beat them.
>>Yimu>>
Ajibade is not a midfielder (forget the listing above), she is a forward (google is our friend) plus was Tony Payne not there when lowly rated Portugal almost thrashed us 3 kondo.
This team needs a radical change otherwise, other African teams don catch up with us already and they may just overtake us and we begin to dance around # 3 in Africa.
Coachie, it seems you no watch that game. Yes we went 3-1 down but which players were responsible for the fight back. Ajibade’s dangerous cross was diverted in by a Portuguese defender for 3-2, while Payne provided the assist for the Ajibade’s equalizer. Go back to Feb this year in the Turkey tournament where Payne ran riot when we beat Equatorial Guinea 9-0. In the current team the attacking potency reduces greatly when Ajibade & Payne are not on the field. Don’t we go come back to this after the Ghana game.
Also Rasheet currently is a midfielder for Atletico Madrid not a forward Coachie. I don’t need google as i watched some of their recent games.
Up up Naija babes!!!
I want to believe that the technical crew are up to the task and know what there are doing. A bit surprised not to see Halimatu Ayinde and/or Ngozi Okobi in the list. Not sure if they are injured or currently not in form, but these two midfielders give the team balance with their disciplined midfield play providing a shied to the defence. Ngozi Okobi combines these with great offensive qualities too. Hopefully the girls in camp can offer better than these two.
Yes I wasn’t pleased not to see Ngozi and Ayinde the Iwobi and Etebo of Falcons.
Ayinde is recovering from long-term injury, otherwise would have been one of the first on the list. Okobi’s current form is poor.