Head Coach Randy Waldrum has selected captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Osinachi Ohale, forward Asisat Oshoala, and 14 other players for the Super Falcons’ final squad for this year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in France.
The squad also includes defenders Oluwatosin Demehin and Michelle Alozie, midfielders Deborah Abiodun, Halimatu Ayinde, Christy Ucheibe, and Toni Payne, as well as forwards Esther Okoronkwo, Chinwendu Ihezuo, and Uchenna Kanu.
Team members currently on holiday in Nigeria will join home-based players and officials on an Air France flight from Abuja to Sevilla, Spain, on Thursday night. The rest of the team and technical staff will also arrive in Sevilla on Friday for a two-week training camp.
The team is set to depart Sevilla for France on Thursday, July 18th.
Nigeria, nine-time African champions, are making their first appearance at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament since 2008 in China. They will face Brazil, Spain, and Japan in that order at this year’s tournament.
To qualify for the 12-team tournament, the Falcons edged out South Africa’s Banyana Banyana 1-0 in the final qualifying round, with Ajibade’s penalty in Abuja deciding the tie over two legs in April.
Their first match against Brazil will be at the Stade Bordeaux on July 25th, followed by matches against Spain on July 28th and Japan on July 31st. The games against Spain and Japan will be held at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, where the Super Eagles famously defeated Spain 3-2 in the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
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); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Jennifer Echegini (Juventus Ladies, Italy); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain)
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 (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia)
Alternate Players: Jumoke Alani (Nasarawa Amazons); Ifeoma Onumonu (Utah Royals, USA); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Morufa Ademola (Rivers Angels)