Head coach Justine Madugu has chosen 24 players for the Super Falcons’ run for a 10th continental championship at the 13th Women Africa Cup of Nations finals, which will take place in Morocco from 5–26 July.
The players include forwards Francisca Ordega and Asisat Oshoala, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, and captain Rasheedat Ajibade.
In Abuja, the Federal Capital, a sizable portion of the team began training sessions on Thursday.
They will continue to practice on Friday and Saturday before leaving for the last training camp in Lisbon, Portugal, early on Sunday.
Madugu has also selected midfielders Deborah Abiodun, Jennifer Echegini, and Christy Ucheibe, as well as colourful defender Ashleigh Plumptre from Saudi Arabia, veteran defender Osinachi Ohale, and Michelle Alozie, a popular among US fans.
Midfield lynchpin Halimatu Ayinde returns, along with defenders Sikiratu Isah and Miracle Usani and custodian Rachael Unachukwu, who plays at home.
In order to put the team in a competitive spirit before their group B matches against Tunisia, Botswana, and Algeria at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, the Nigeria Football Federation has already arranged friendly matches for them against the senior women’s national teams of Portugal and Ghana.
The Falcons will play the Black Queens of Ghana in Morocco on Sunday, June 29, after facing their Portuguese counterparts in Lisbon on Monday, June 23.
Full List
Goalkeepers:
Chiamaka Nnadozie (just finished contract with Paris FC, France); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons)
Defenders:
Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma, Italy); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies FC, Saudi Arabia); Sikiratu Isah (Nasarawa Amazons); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive, Turkey); Miracle Usani (Edo Queens)
Midfielders:
Rasheedat Ajibade (just finished contract with Atletico Madrid, Spain); Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosenburg, Sweden); Deborah Abiodun (Dallas Trinity, USA); Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint Germain, France); Toni Payne (Everton Ladies, England); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal)
Forwards:
Francisca Ordega (Ittihad Ladies Club, Saudi Arabia); Chinwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Ifeoma Onumonu (Montpellier FC, France); Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto, Canada); Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Folashade Ijamilusi (Liaoning Shenyang Shenbei Hefeng, China); Chioma Okafor (University of Connecticut, USA)