Head Coach Randy Waldrum has called 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 the year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in France.
Also on the roster are defenders Oluwatosin Demehin and Michelle Alozie, midfielders Deborah Abiodun, Halimatu Ayinde, Christy Ucheibe, Toni Payne, forwards Esther Okoronkwo, Chinwendu Ihezuo, and Uchenna Kanu.
The squad members, who are already on holidays in Nigeria, will link up with home-based players and team officials to join an Air France flight from Abuja to Sevilla, Spain, on Thursday evening, while the rest of the playing body and technical are also billed to arrive in Sevilla on Friday, for a two-week training camp.
The team will depart Sevilla for France on Thursday 18 th July.
The nine-time African champions, Nigeria, making their first appearance at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament since the 2008 event in China, will, this time, go up against Brazil, Spain, and Japan in that order.
The Falcons had gone into the 12-team tournament on the strength of a 1-0 win over South Africa’s Banyana Banyana when a goal from the penalty mark in Abuja by Ajibade separated Africa’s top two teams in April over two legs.
Their opening game, against Brazil, is scheduled for the Stade Bordeaux on 25th July, before further clashes with Spain (28th July) and Japan (31st July). The games against Spain and Japan will be staged at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, where the Super Eagles sensationally outscored tournament favourites Spain 3-2 in a thrilling game at the 1998 FIFA World Cup finals.
SUPER FALCONS FOR PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia)
Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Nicole Payne (Portland Thorns FC, USA); Chidinma Okeke (Mynavi Sendai Ladies, Japan)
Midfielders: Deborah Abiodun (University of Pittsburgh, USA); Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosengard, Sweden); Christ
Forwards : 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); Chinonyerem Macleans (Locom