Super Falcons’ Head Coach Justine Madugu has invited a total of 23 players, among them captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Michelle Alozie, midfielder Toni Payne and forward Rinsola Babajide, for the upcoming two friendly matches against the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon.
There are also defenders Osinachi Ohale, Oluwatosin Demehin and Shukurat Oladipo, midfielders Deborah Abiodun and Jennifer Echegini, and forwards Ifeoma Onumonu and Francisca Ordega.
The Falcons and the Lionesses will face off at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne-Remo on Saturday, 31st May, before a second confrontation at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta on Tuesday, 3rd June.
While the Falcons will use the matches as part of their preparations for the 13th Women Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Morocco, 5th – 26th July, the Lionesses will use the games to stay in shape for future challenges, having failed to qualify for this year’s Women AFCON finals.
All invited 23 players have been directed to arrive at the Am2pm Hotel in Ijebu-Ode on Monday, 26th May.
Nine-time champions Nigeria (they also won the two non-tournament-format competitions in 1991 and 1995) will be up against Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana in group B of the 13th Women AFCON in Morocco.
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Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Linda Jiwuaku (Bayelsa Queens); Morufa Ademola (Edo Queens)
Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma, Italy); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Rofiat Imuran (London City Lionesses, England); Sikiratu Isah (Nasarawa Amazons); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive, Turkey); Miracle Usani (Edo Queens); Blessing Ilivieda (Bayelsa Queens)
Midfielders: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Deborah Abiodun (Dallas Trinity, USA); Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint Germain, France); Josephine Mathias (Nasarawa Amazons); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Amarachi Odoma (Edo Queens)
Forwards: Toni Payne (Everton Ladies, England); Francisca Ordega (Ittihad Ladies Club, Saudi Arabia); Olamide Bolaji (Remo Stars Ladies); Ifeoma Onumonu (Montpellier FC, France); Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa (Spain); Emem Essien (Edo Queens)
10 Comments
Super Falcons will do well in these friendlies. Heaven bless all invited players.
Francisca Ordega again? Abideen won the Turkey women League where she scored 8 goals I just 6 matches is left out; Destiny Imade with 16 goals is second top scorer in Liga Femeni is left out too
Not to mention Ashley Plumptyre who’s arguably Falcons best defender
Where’s halimotu ayinde and plumptre?
Good squad for the friendlies.
I do hope NFF puts in their best efforts to secure Edna Imade for Nigeria. With Asisat Oshoala at the twilight of her national team career, Edna appears to be the next big thing in the horizon of Nigeria women football. She’ll be a perfect replacement for Oshoala , and I hope NFF succeeds in getting her to don the Super Falcons jersey. Will be great news if it happens at the coming WAFCON.
I don’t know why Asleigh, Chidinma, Okoronkwo, and Ayinde are left out of this. There are names of Nigerian descent flying all over; we could invite them, too, like Imade, etc. We need all our players as it is a build-up for the Afcon in July.
I sincerely feel that the Falcons need a female coach. And, we have seasoned female coaches home and abroad.
GOOD LUCK LADIES! But some baffling call-ups.
Where is EDNA IMADE (16 goals in Spain’s La Liga)? I understand and support NWFL call-ups but why Emem Essien and Bolaji Olamide and ignore Super 6 MVP Janet Akekoromowei? Even though Olamide outscored Janet, the latter is simply a better all-around football player (as well as a reliable goalscorer).
Amarachi Odoma? She’s a reserve at Edo Queens and barely got a sniff-in for a few minutes in the 5 games of the Super 6. Meanwhile, the likes of Suliat Abideen (who just recently won the the Turkish league as a starter for ABB Fomget) are left out. In fact, would take her (and even Grace Salisu of ASFAR) over Josephine Mathias.
Linda Jiwuaku? How do the selectors ignore Omini Oyono and instead select her reserve who didn’t even get off the bench? Meanwhile, Pauline Isah (now Portugal-based) should’ve made the cut. Finally, flowers to Franny Ordega for what she’s given to our beloved country but it’s time to move on and onto a new generation of players.
The saying, “no smoke without fire,” comes to mind here.
Fransisca Orderga was emphatic in her denial on social media and mainstream media interviews last year that allegations claiming she tried to force or bribe her way into Randy Waldrum’s Olympic squad last summer were false, unfounded, and most disrespectful to her years of service to the national team.
What is disrespectful to the Super Falcons entity is the refusal of her and Onome Ebi (who was also linked to the bribery Olympic squad scandal) to formally announce their retirements from the national team gracefully.
When it comes to international football, both players are out of time and out of relevance. These views might sound harsh but are nonetheless on-point. I love them to the moon and back but I think it is time to give others a chance.
Orgega’s slot could have been rightly taken by my favourite, fabulous Flourish Sebastain, up-and-coming star Chidi Harmony, woman-mountain Janet Akekoromowei, or dashing winger Goodness the gangbuster Osigwe.
Good luck to the team. By and large I think it is a decent squad.
My own is the opponent we are facing plays no style similar to Algeria, Tunisia and even Botswana who will be our group B foes in July.
Wait. Is NFF feeling our group opponents are already a walkover for us?
Na una know the playing personnel that should have made the cut but Cameroon is the most wrong opponent to try new formations ahead of WAFCON if we seriously dream of reclaiming our crown, after months of inactivity.
Names don’t play football again.
You’re lucky you even got Cameroon…
The inept NFF sat on their hands through 2 FIFA Windows while other WAFCON teams were playing friendlies and fine-tuning their squads. Thus, nonplussed about Cameroon’s playing “style”, not least because friendlies have different uses, including evaluating new prospects. It certainly is much better than what the NFF has been doing up till now – NOTHING!
PS: What happened to the new permanent coach the NFF promised?
Oh, with 9 home based players which is very impossible to happen when it’s show time, this will just be regarded as “keeping fit” match. Strategy will only occur during the competition. We dey take this competition preparation for granted sha. The arrogance is vibing.
Sha, don’t fall from the glory heights of 2023.