Super Falcons name Ajibade, Oshoala, 22 others for WAFCON
Head Coach Justine Madugu has chosen a team of 24 players for the Super Falcons to compete at the 13th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which will take place from 5th to 26th July in Morocco.
The squad includes captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, and forwards Francisca Ordega and Asisat Oshoala.
Most of the players started training on Thursday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, and will continue on Friday and Saturday. The team will then travel to Lisbon, Portugal, on Sunday for their final training camp.
Other top players include defender Ashleigh Plumptre from Saudi Arabia, popular US-based defender Michelle Alozie, experienced defender Osinachi Ohale, and midfielders Deborah Abiodun, Jennifer Echegini, and Christy Ucheibe.
Home-based players Rachael Unachukwu (goalkeeper), Sikiratu Isah, and Miracle Usani (both defenders) also made the squad. Midfielder Halimatu Ayinde is back in the team.
The Nigeria Football Federation has arranged friendly matches against Portugal and Ghana to help the team prepare. The Super Falcons will play Portugal in Lisbon on Monday, 23rd June, and Ghana in Morocco on Sunday, 29th June.
In the group stage of the tournament, Nigeria will face Tunisia, Botswana, and Algeria. All their group matches will be played at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.
Full Super Falcons Squad for WAFCON 2024:
Goalkeepers:
* Chiamaka Nnadozie (just left Paris FC, France)
* Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia)
* Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons, Nigeria)
Defenders:
* Osinachi Ohale (Pachuca FC, Mexico)
* Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma, Italy)
* Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA)
* Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies FC, Saudi Arabia)
* Sikiratu Isah (Nasarawa Amazons, Nigeria)
* Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray, Turkey)
* Miracle Usani (Edo Queens, Nigeria)
Midfielders:
* Rasheedat Ajibade (just left Atletico Madrid, Spain)
* Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosenborg, Sweden)
* Deborah Abiodun (Dallas Trinity, USA)
* Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint-Germain, France)
* Toni Payne (Everton, England)
* Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal)
Forwards:
* Francisca Ordega (Ittihad Ladies Club, Saudi Arabia)
* Chinwendu Ihezuo (Pachuca FC, Mexico)
* Ifeoma Onumonu (Montpellier FC, France)
* Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto, Canada)
* Omorinsola Babajide (Tenerife, Spain)
* Folashade Ijamilusi (Liaoning Shenyang, China)
* Chioma Okafor (University of Connecticut, USA)
