By Victor Kanayo
Nigeria has named 22 players ahead of the 2024 Olympics battle against Japan, Spain and Brazil in the women football event.
While 18 of them are in the main team, four others are classified as alternate players.
Head Coach of Nigeria’s women team Randy Waldrum disclosed this in a statement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday.
Squad Confirmation
Part of the statement reads, “Head coach Randy Waldrum has picked captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Osinachi Ohale, forward Asisat Oshoala and 14 other players in his final list of Nigeria’s Super Falcons for this year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in France.
“There are also defenders Oluwatosin Demehin and Michelle Alozie, midfielders Deborah Abiodun, Halimatu Ayinde, Christy Ucheibe and Toni Payne, and forwards Esther Okoronkwo, Chinwendu Ihezuo and Uchenna Kanu.
‘”Squad members who are currently on holidays in Nigeria will join home-based players and team officials aboard an Air France flight from Abuja to Sevilla, Spain on Thursday night, with the rest of the playing body and technical team also arriving in Sevilla on Friday for a two-week training camp.
“The team is scheduled to depart Sevilla for France on Thursday, 18th July.”
Vital Return Amidst Titanic Battle Versus Powerhouses
Nine-time African champions Nigeria, who are making their first appearance at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament for the first time since 2008 in China, staged a return at this year’s tournament.
To qualify for the 12-team tournament, the Super Falcons as they are widely known edged South Africa’s Banyana Banyana 1-0 with a strike from the penalty spot by Ajibade in Abuja, separating Africa’s top two teams over two legs in the month of April.
Their first game against Brazil comes up at the Stade Bordeaux on July 25, before confrontations with Spain on July 28 and Japan on July 31.
The matches against Spain and Japan will hold at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, where the Super Eagles famously defeated tournament favourites Spain 3-2 in a memorable game at the 1998 FIFA World Cup finals.
Full Team List
The goalkeepers are Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC) and Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia)
Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Nicole Payne (Portland Thorns FC, USA) and Chidinma Okeke (Mynavi Sendai Ladies, Japan) are among the defenders.
Invited midfielders include Deborah Abiodun (University of Pittsburgh, USA); Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosengard, Sweden); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Jennifer Echegini (Juventus Ladies, Italy and Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain).
Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Esther Okoronkwo (Changchun FC, China); Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC, USA); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Chiwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico) and Chinonyerem Macleans (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia) will play in front.
The alternate Players are Jumoke Alani (Nasarawa Amazons); Ifeoma Onumonu (Utah Royals, USA); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain) and Morufa Ademola (Rivers Angels)
