Super Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum has extended invitations to captain Rasheedat Ajibade, US-based Africa queen Asisat Oshoala and high-riding goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie among a group of 22 players for the two-legged Paris Olympics final qualifying fixture against South Africa next month.
Regulars like Ashleigh Plumptre, Toni Payne, Michelle Alozie, Ifeoma Onumonu and Uchenna Kanu were also included in the squad.
Notable absentees are Oluwatosin Demehin and Rofiat Imuran.
Both were part of the squad that defeated the Indomitable Lionesses in the previous round.
The Super Falcons are at home for the first leg scheduled for Friday, 5th April at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja before flying to Pretoria for the return at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday, 9th April.
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The winner over two legs will earn one of Africa’s two tickets to this year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, with Zambia and Morocco to clash for the other ticket on the same dates.
FULL LIST
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); Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Nicole Payne (Portland Thorns FC, USA); Chidinma Okeke (Mynavi Sendai Ladies, Japan)
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 (Changchun FC, China); Ifeoma Onumonu (SLC Utah, USA); Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC, USA); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Chiwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico)
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COMMENTS
This is a killer squad!
After a very long while chidinma okeke is back to the team, I remember how she destroyed teams previous years ago from the right back position.. who is that oladipo from robo fc? She must be a very good player to make the team..
One reason I love foreign coaches.. only the best legs gets invitation to the team
Oladipo marshalled the Falconets’ defence at the Africa Games and she looked quite solid most of the time.
Pt 1
Randy Waldrum released his killer squad to face South Africa in upcoming high profile Olympic Qualifiers.
I take a brief look at each department:
Goalkeeping: I think it’s high time we unveil or unearth another high profile Super Falcons goalkeeper as Nnadozie’s understudy.
Jiwuaku is a rookie and Oluehi is long-in-the-tooth goalkeepingwise.
Defence: I am so delighted to see the return of Chidinma Okeke to her rightful place. She was explosive at the 2019 World Cup, hopefully she is here to stay. I love Demehin but Okeke might give her a run for her money. Nicole Payne now needs to cement her slot in the team with a mature showing.
Final Part:
The midfield has shock-absorbers in Abiodun and Ucheibe with the likes of Payne and Echegini providing creative sparks.
In attack, the likes of Oshoala and Rinsola carry pace and power with Okonkwo now the most credible goal threat.
The Super Falcons side is loaded with fascinating players across the park.
It promises to be an explosive encounter.
this is nice only the omission of Toni payne in the creativity comment pain me..
payne has been a fantastic player all awhile .
im wary of the south african ladies honestly , their pace and team cohension is topnotch but this game is 50/50 match ..
Wow. Chidinma Okeke and Chiwendu Ihezuo are back! Waldrum really spread his net wide this time.
Chidinma it was that threaded that delicious pass to Oshoala to finish up a counter against South Korea at France 2019 Women’s World Cup. Chiwendu had always been a mainstay during the time of Denerby in 2018 until it appeared she went off the radar.
Nice to have the duo back. Surprised Demehin couldn’t make the list. Must be a crack team. Not surprised about Imruran’s exclusion though.
Ha Kel!
You and these your recent contentious comments. 🙂
Okeke and Chiwendu have both played under Waldrum. Okeke played for Waldrum against USA, Jamaica and Portugal whilst Chiwendu played against Mexico and Costs Rica just last year.
So what is the basis for the statement: “Waldrum really spread his net wide this time.”
When didn’t he spread his net wide?
Don’t worry: Peseiro is gone, Waldrum will leave too and NFF will replace Bosso. 🙂
Kel, na wa for you o!
Hahahaha @deo. No Waldrum should stay. The other recommendations are fine. Lol
My bad, never recalled both playing under Waldrum though. Maybe it’s the consistency. But I know they neither featured at the World Cup nor in Waldrum’s recent matches. I’ve always preferred Waldrum. Never opposed him. I like him, his fights, and his style.
I’m happy for the return of chidinma Okeke and Ihezuo, as I believe the two will like to establish and prove to the coach and Nigerians that they are force to reckon with. I wish the girls all the best.
Demehim copped a nasty injury in the rugby match with Cameroon at abuja.She may not have recovered.
This is a killer squad and it is high time we make the South African loquacious coach to keep quiet.She has been very vocal of late.First she said it was do or die with Nigeria, and then she is taking Nigeria to high altitude believing that she will have an advantage there while highlighting the three victories she had over Nigeria.
Waldrum and his player maturely ignored the South Africans chosing to do the talking on the pitch
What i find very disturbing is that Nigeria named their squad today 25/03/2024, the same day Bayana Bayana opened camping. Of course there will still be absences. If the FA was serious they would have opened camp with home based players.
Anyone who thinks the Falcons will defeat South Africa is making a very big mistake. South Africa will beat Nigeria over two legs, not because they are better, but because they are better prepared.
Pessimist@ Harry A, which club would release their players for 2 weeks for an Olympics qualifier?, It might have been easier for SA players to gather earlier cos most of them still play in the lobal league. Just chill, our girls would get the job done.
Until then, bro. SA”s greatest weapon is their fluid ball movement and smooth transition. They’ve caught us off guard a number of times with that and they look solid at the back. Their greatest strength is their midfield led by that Rafinoe. If Waldrum could distrupt that and ensure we’re all attack them on the counter, they simply can’t match our girls’ strength.
My major challenge is the team’s wasteful tendency. And the major culprit is Assisat. Chances will come, especially with that Echiegini and Payne in the midfield. But will they convert them? That’s my major concern, and not SA per se.
We’ve sent a strong statement with that strong performance at the WC. And they can activate that killer model with a bit of decisiveness going forward, SA will struggle against us home and away.
I want to see 2 CDMs in Abiodun and Halima in the second leg, with okoronkwo and ehiegini starting. We will beat the girls in yellow.
this is nice only the omission of Toni payne in the creativity comment pain me..
payne has been a fantastic player all awhile .
im wary of the south african ladies honestly , their pace and team cohension is topnotch but this game is 50/50 match ..
Please guys, when did Waldrum return as Super falcon coach. I can recall he stopped after World cup