Super Falcons’ Camp Opens On Tuesday In Abuja, With 35 Invited Players

A total of 35 female players are scheduled to open camp next week Tuesday in Abuja, as Nigeria’s women’s national team, Super Falcons commence preparations for their 12th African Women Cup of Nations qualifier against Cote d’Ivoire.

Megasportsarena.com reports that this follows a list of invitees released on Thursday by Falcons’ head coach, Randy Waldrum, who is eager to set his plans in motion ahead of next month’s final qualifying fixture.

Waldrum’s players, who are all expected to be at the camp in Abuja on Tuesday, 1st February, will face the Ivorians over two legs in battles for only one available slot at this year’s AWCON to be hosted by Morocco in July.

Both sides will first clash at Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Friday, 18th February and then slug things out in the reverse fixture at Stade Robert Champroux in Abidjan on Wednesday, 23rd February.

A press release by the communications department of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) revealed that Waldrum has included many of the lasses that were also with him in Abuja towards the end of last year, during a nine-day training camp in November.

The NFF’s statement added: “To reach this stage, nine-time African champions Nigeria edged the Black Queens of Ghana 2-1 on aggregate in October 2021, while the Lady Elephants blew away their counterparts from the Niger Republic 20-0 on aggregate.

“Captain Asisat Oshoala is called alongside Onome Ebi, Rasheedat Ajibade, Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene, Rita Chikwelu, Desire Oparanozie, Francisca Ordega, Osinachi Ohale and goalkeepers Chiamaka Nnadozie and Tochukwu Oluehi.

“There are also England –based Ashleigh Plumptre, Toni Payne, Michelle Alozie, Yetunde Aluko, Esther Okoronkwo, Vivian Ikechukwu and Gift Monday.”

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS: Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Tochukwu Oluehi (Maccabi Kishronot Hadera, Israel); Christy Ohiaeriaku (Sunshine Queens); Yewande Balogun (USA).

Defenders: Rofiat Imuran (Rivers Angels); Glory Ogbonna (Santa Teresa FC, Spain); Onome Ebi (Minsk FC, Belarus); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Ayomide Ojo (Edo Queens); Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City, England); Joy Duru (Nasarawa Amazons); Nicole Payne (West Virginia University, USA); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Akudo Ogbonna (Edo Queens).

Midfielders: Peace Efih (Kiryat Gat, Israel); Yetunde Aluko (WFC Ramat Hasharon, Israel); Amanda Mbadinuju (Bayelsa Queens); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (Eskilstuna FC, Sweden); Grace Igboamalu (Bayelsa Queens); Toni Oyedupe Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (Minsk FC, Belarus); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Rita Chikwelu (Madrid CFF, Spain); Amarachi Okoronkwo (Nasarawa Amazons); Deborah Abiodun (Rivers Angels).

Forwards: Esther Okoronkwo (AS Saint Etienne, France); Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Desire Oparanozie (Dijon FC, France); Vivian Ikechukwu (Rivers Angels); Gift Monday (FC Robo Queens); Juliet Bassey (Bayelsa Queens); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Uchenne Kanu (Tigres Femenil, Mexico); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain).