The Nigeria Football Federation has invited midfielder Esther Onyenezide to replace injured Halimatu Ayinde ahead of Super Falcons 2024 Women Olympic Football Tournament fixture against Ethiopia’s senior women national team.
For the crucial match on Wednesday at the Abebe Bekila Stadium, the foreign-based players have begun to arrive in addition to the delegation of home-based Nigerian players, technical personnel, and backroom staff that flew into Addis Abeba on Sunday. At the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, the Super Falcons will host the second leg of the match.
The match will not feature Mexican defender Osinachi Ohale of Pachuca FC and midfielder Regina Otu, who was unable to attend the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand this past summer. Christy Ucheibe of SL Benfica in Portugal, another World Cup hero, will also miss the game.
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The winner of the match between Cameroon and Uganda will square off against the aggregate winner. The Indomitable Lionesses had a bye, and overall, Uganda defeated Rwanda 4-3.
The senior girls of Ethiopia, known as Lucy, defeated the senior women’s national team of Chad 10-0 in the opening game of the series, which was played in July. The Ethiopians defeated their hosts 4-0 in N’Djamena five days after winning the opening leg 6-0 in Addis Abeba on July 13.
Lamia Atman of Algeria has been named the match’s referee by the Confederation of African Football, with her countrymen Asma Feriel Ouahab, Sara Kemmad, and Ghada Mehat serving as the first, second, and fourth officials, respectively.
The match commissioner will be Kenyan Tabitha Wambui Njoroge, while the referee assessor will be Angelique Tuyishime of Rwanda.
Togo’s Edoh Kindedji will serve as the referee for the second leg on Tuesday in Abuja, with her countrymen Abra Sitsofe Agbedanou and Kossiwa Kayigan Awoutey serving as assistant referees 1 and 2, respectively. The fourth official will be Yacine Samassa of Mauritania.
The match commissioner will be Christine Ziga from Ghana, and the referee assessor will be Daloba Oulare from Guinea.
Super Falcons Invited Players
Goalkeepers:
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Monle Oyono (Bayelsa Queens)
Defenders:
Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Nicole Payne (Paris Saint Germain, France); Jumoke Alani (Edo Queens); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France)
Midfielders:
Esther Onyenezide (FC Robo Queens); Peace Efih (Sporting Club de Braga, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain)
Forwards:
Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona Feminine, Spain); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Opeyemi Ajakaye (FC Robo Queens)