Robo Queens midfielder Esther Onyenezide has been called up to Nigeria’s senior squad for the 2024 Women Olympic Football Qualifying Tournament against Ethiopia later this week.
The 20-year-old, who represented the Falconets at last year’s FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica, where Nigeria got to the quarterfinals, will replace the more experienced Halimatu Ayinde, who was part of the Super Falcons team that lost to England on penalties at this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in July.
Onyenezide will join up with the delegation of home-based players along with technical and backroom staff who flew into Addis Ababa from Nigeria on Sunday, with some of the foreign-based pros already arriving for the encounter while the rest are expected to join up with the squad.
???????? Excited to announce that I’ve been invited to join the Nigeria’s senior women’s national team! ???????? It’s an honor to represent my country and wear the green and white. ????⚽ Can’t wait to give it my all and make Nigeria proud against Ethiopia! ???????????? #Nigeria #SuperFalcons pic.twitter.com/ACUgLrNli0
— Esther Onyenezide (@EOnyenezide10) October 23, 2023
Pachuca FC defender Osinachi Ohale, who scored in Nigeria’s famous win against Australia at the Women’s World Cup, has been ruled out of the fixture along with French-based midfielder Regina Otu and SL Benfica midfielder Christy Ucheibe, who has been a stalwart in the middle of the park for the team.
The tie against Ethiopia will be the Super Falcons’ first game since their round of 16 exit in the World Cup, while Lucy, as the Ethiopian team is fondly called, defeated Chad 10-0 on aggregate in the first round.
OFFICIAL: Our ???????? squad list ???? for Ethiopia doubleheader in the second round of the African qualifying tournament for the #Paris2024, later this month! ????????#SoarSuperFalcons| #OlympicsQualifiers pic.twitter.com/hpkMJngd4F
— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) October 9, 2023
Nigeria and Ethiopia will face off at the Abebe Bekila Stadium on Wednesday, October 25, in the first leg of the double-header, while the second leg will see the Falcons host the East Africans at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, on Tuesday, October 31, with the winner on aggregate set to face the winner of the tie between Cameroon and Uganda.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Monle Oyono (Bayelsa Queens)
Defenders: Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Nicole Payne (Paris Saint Germain, France); Jumoke Alani (Edo Queens); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France)
Midfielders: Esther Onyenezide (FC Robo Queens); Peace Efih (Sporting Club de Braga, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain)
Forwards: Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona Feminine, Spain); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Opeyemi Ajakaye (FC Robo Queens)
