WAFCON Qualifiers: Oshoala, Echegini two others replaced in Super Falcons squad for Cape Verde clash

Nigeria has replaced , Asisat Oshoala, Jennifer Echegini and two others on the Super Falcons squad-list for the WAFCON qualifier vs Cape Verde this week.

Coach Justin Madugu named his squad for the double-header last week but recent developments mean he will prosecute the games without some of the invited players

Three players have notified the NFF of their unavailability with injury and so have been ruled out.

NFF’s Assistant Director (Technical), Abdulrafiu Yusuf, said two players had been sent their flight tickets to travel to Nigeria a whole week before they announced on Saturday that they would be unable to join the squad.

“We were surprised that they had the flight tickets for so long and did not say anything, only for them to send different messages on Saturday that they would be unable to make the trip. However, Coach Madugu has moved swiftly to call up replacements for them,” disclosed Yusuf.

Midfield lynchpin Halimatu Ayinde, who missed the 2024 Olympics qualifying fixture against Ethiopia last month, is still out injured, and forward Ifeoma Onumonu also requested to be left out, saying she is nursing an injury. Defender Michelle Alozie told the team administrator that she will be undergoing a surgery.

As replacement for Oshoala and Echegini, Nigeria U20 Girls’ ace forward Chioma Olise will take the place of US-based Echegini while Chiamaka Chukwu of Rivers Angels has been called up to take Oshoala’s place.

Coach Madugu has also called up Portugal-based Peace Efih to once again fill the space vacated by Ayinde, while Rivers Angels’ midfielder Motunrayo Ezekiel will take the place of Christy Ucheibe, who is unable to travel to Nigeria from her base in Portugal.

The Super Falcons will host the first leg of the fixture against their counterparts from Cape Verde at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Thursday, 30th November, with the second leg scheduled for the Santiago-Estadio Nacional Blue Shark in Praia on Tuesday, 5th December.