Super Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum has confirmed his 23-woman squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand next month.
UEFA Women’s Champions League winner with FC Barcelona, Asistat Oshoala, 40-year-old captain Onome Ebi, Atletico Madrid star Rasheedat Ajibade, and first-choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie are included in the squad that is dominated by foreign-based players.
Familiar faces like Desire Oparanozie, Esther Okoronkwo, and Halimatu Ayinde are joined by Rivers United midfielder Deborah Abiodun, the only home-based player that made Waldrum’s selection.
AUNZ Bound ???? #soarsuperfalcons pic.twitter.com/CgYLuF3kC5
— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) June 16, 2023
Nigeria, who finished fourth at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, are in Group B and will kickstart the biggest Women’s World Cup ever with a tie against Canada. They will face co-host Australia in their second game before rounding up the group stage against the Republic of Ireland.
The Super Falcons will depart for Australia for a 15-day training camp on July 4 before the Women’s World Cup commences on July 20.
SUPER FALCONS FULL TEAM LIST
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Tochukwu Oluehi (Hakkarigucu Spor FC, Turkey); Yewande Balogun (AS Saint-Etienne, France)
Defenders: Onome Ebi (Abia Angels); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Glory Ogbonna (Besiktas JK, Turkey); Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City, England); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France)
Midfielders: Halimatu Ayinde (Rosengard FC, Sweden); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Deborah Abiodun (Rivers Angels); Jennifer Echegini (Florida State University, USA)
Forwards: Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, Kentucky, USA); Gift Monday (UDG Tenerife, Spain); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona Femenine, Spain); Desire Oparanozie (Wuhan Chegu Jianghan, China); Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Esther Okoronkwo (AS Saint-Etienne, France)
