Super Falcons head coach, Randy Waldrum, has unveiled his final squad for the Paris 2024 Olympics’ Women Football Tournament in France.
The named captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Osinachi Ohale, forward Asisat Oshoala and 14 others in his 18-player squad for the tournament.
Also included in the list are defenders Oluwatosin Demehin and Michelle Alozie, midfielders Deborah Abiodun, Halimatu Ayinde, Christy Ucheibe and Toni Payne, and forwards Esther Okoronkwo, Chinwendu Ihezuo and Uchenna Kanu.
Spain based striker Monday Gift as well as Jumoke Alani of Nasarawa Amazons, Ifeoma Onumonu of Utah Royals, USA and Morufa Ademola of Rivers Angels are placed on a standby list.
Squad members who are currently on holidays in Nigeria will join home-based players and team officials aboard an Air France flight from Abuja to Sevilla, Spain on Thursday night, with the rest of the playing body and technical team also arriving in Sevilla on Friday for a two-week training camp. The team is scheduled to depart Sevilla for France on Thursday, 18th July.
Nine-time African champions Nigeria, who are making their first appearance at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament for the first time since 2008 in China, will tackle Brazil, Spain and Japan, in that order, at this year’s tournament.
Their first game, against Brazil, comes up at the Stade Bordeaux on 25th July, before confrontations with Spain (28th July) and Japan (31st July). The matches against Spain and Japan would hold at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, where the Super Eagles famously defeated tournament favourites Spain 3-2 in a memorable game at the 1998 FIFA World Cup finals.
FULL SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie and Tochukwu Oluehi.Defenders: Osinachi Ohale, Oluwatosin Demehin, Michelle Alozie, Nicole Payne and Chidinma Okeke.
Midfielders: Deborah Abiodun , Halimatu Ayinde, Christy Ucheibe and Toni Payne.
Forwards: Rasheedat Ajibade, Esther Okoronkwo, Asisat Oshoala, Uchenna Kanu, Chiwendu Ihezuo and Chinonyerem Macleans
Alternate Players: Jumoke Alani, Ifeoma Onumonu, Gift Monday and Morufa Ademola