Forward Asisat Oshoala and midfielder Jennifer Echegini voluntarily withdrew from the Super Falcons’ squad for the team’s scheduled 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying match against Cape Verde.
With the first leg taking place in Abuja in four days and they have been replaced by coach Justin Madugu.
Abdulrafiu Yusuf, the Assistant Director (Technical) of the NFF, stated that the two players received their airline tickets to Nigeria one week prior to their announcement on Saturday that they would not be able to join the team.
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“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.
In addition to attacker Ifeoma Onumonu, who asked to be left off due to injury, midfield mainstay Halimatu Ayinde is still sidelined due to injury.
She missed Ethiopia’s 2024 Olympics qualifying match last month.
Michelle Alozie, the defender, informed the team administration that she would be having surgery.
Madugu has summoned Peace Efih, who is based in Portugal, to replace Ayinde once more, while Rivers Angels midfielder Motunrayo Ezekiel will replace Christy Ucheibe, who is unable to fly from her base in Portugal to Nigeria.
The star forward for the Nigeria U20 girls, Chioma Olise, will replace US-based Echegini, and Rivers Angels’ Chiamaka Chukwu has been called up to replace Oshoala.
The Super Falcons will play their opponents from Cape Verde in the first leg of their matchup at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Thursday, November 30.
The second leg is set to take place on Tuesday, December 5 at the Santiago-Estadio Nacional Blue Shark in Praia.
NEW LIST OF INVITED PLAYERS:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Christiana Obia (Edo Queens)
Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachuca FC, Mexico); Glory Edet (FCF TP Mazembe, DR Congo); Rihanat Kasali (Bayelsa Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Akudo Ogbonna (Remo Stars Ladies); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France).
Midfielders: Motunrayo Ezekiel (Rivers Angels); Esther Onyenezide (FC Robo Queens); Peace Efih (Sporting Club de Braga, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Deborah Abiodun (University of Pittsburgh, USA); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Chioma Olise (Edo Queens).
Forwards: Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Chiamaka Chukwu (Rivers Angels); Esther Okoronkwo (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain).