Super Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum has invited 21 players for the team’s 2024 Olympic Games qualifier against the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon.
Waldrum will take charge of the Super Falcons for the first time since the Round of 16 clash against the Three Lionesses of England at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The duo of Ashleigh Plumptre and Halimatu Ayinde are also making a return to the team after last featuring for the Super Falcons at the World Cup.
Regulars like Asisat Oshoala, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Rasheedat Ajibade, Michelle Alozie and Toni Payne are all included in the squad.
The nine-time African champions will face Cameroon in the first leg at the Stade de la Reunification in Douala, Cameroon on Friday , February 23.
The second leg match will place at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Monday 26th February.
SUPER FALCONS TO BATTLE CAMEROON:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Linda Jiwuaku (Bayelsa Queens).
Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies, Saudi Arabia); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Akudo Ogbonna (Remo Stars Ladies); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France).
Midfielders: Deborah Abiodun (University of Pittsburgh, USA); Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosengard, Sweden); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Jennifer Echegini (Juventus Ladies, Italy); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain).
Forwards: Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Esther Okoronkwo (Henan FC, China); Ifeoma Onumonu (SLC Utah, USA); Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC, Spain); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain)
4 Comments
NFF what happened to coach Magudu I hope they have not discarded that promising technical coach??? CS I thought Bay fc is in the states???
I think Magudu is part of Waldrum’s management team. He did very well to step up in Waldrum’s hiatus.
We have far too many ravishing talents for Nigeria to miss out on Olympics women’s football.
Having seen how Waldrum and Peseiro’s outputs united the nation in the women’s world cup and Afcon respectively, I think the government is keen for that to continue. Hence their determination to mend damaged walls with Waldrum.
Magudu would have been an almighty gamble for such a mammoth encounter with Cameroon who are out for blood after we booted their male counterparts out of the Afcon.
This is a great list including all the big guns already known to the Fanbase amd heavily involved at the World Cup.
But if I want to nitpick, I will bemoan the absence of promising homebased players and hungrier dual nationality players. Home basers like Ramota Kareem, Esther Onyenezide and Opeyemi Ajakaye could have been worthy additions.
I also wonder why Nicole Payne struggles to carve out a niche for herself in the team. The goals are drying up for Onumonu but she still gets a look in. The Super Falcons needs another credible centre forward in the mould of Chinonyerem Macleans.
Good luck to the team.
Remember the name: Ramota Kareem. That young lady, if she continues on a promising trajectory, is one to look out for.
The list is good I guess it’s mostly based on performance last year, but am worried on 100% overt reliance on foreign based players at the expense of home based, there must be a percentage number of home based players no matter what, it encourages the home front, there is no way you will not get two or three players from our leaque that will not compete with their foreign counterpart.
Keshi’s template must be encouraged, since Rohr took over all other foreign coaches have been following his pattern: that no home based player is good, it’s an exaggerated low estimation of the players, it’s not fair.
The last AFCON should have opened our eyes, if players from many local leaque could play and hold their own against top stars our players if encouraged will do it better.
Pls tell Assisat to play like a leader in that team not like oga madam in the national colour, names no dey play ball again o, Onumonu has been struggling I hope this will not be another Pesseiro and Uzoho scenario.
No reason why Ajakaiye, Ramota should not be given a chance.