Oshoala, Okafor in; Monday, Omewa out as Nigeria name final squad for WAFCON 2024

By Samuel Ahmadu

Nigeria head coach Justine Madugu has named a 24-player squad for the 2024 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, with headline inclusions Asisat Oshoala and surprise addition Chioma Okafor, while Gift Monday, Edna Imade, Bolaji Olamide, and Joy Omewa miss out.

The squad, released on Friday, features 13 returnees from the 2022 WAFCON squad and 11 debutants, including three home-based players: goalkeeper Udoka Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons), defender Sikiratu Isah (Nasarawa Amazons), and full-back Miracle Usani (Edo Queens).

Madugu, who previously assisted Nigeria to continental success in 2014 and 2018, leads the Super Falcons into a new era with a squad built on continuity, form, experience and young prospects.

Veteran Core and Fresh Faces

Bay FC striker and six-time African Women’s Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala returns to bolster the attack after missing recent international windows since Paris 2024 last August. Also recalled are experienced hands such as Francisca Ordega, Halimatu Ayinde, Osinachi Ohale, and Atlético Madrid’s Rasheedat Ajibade, who will captain the team.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old forward Chioma Okafor, currently playing collegiate soccer in the United States, who shoned mother’s land and birth country, Malawi to represent fatherland Nigeria, is among the fresh faces earning a debut call-up. Other new names include Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma), Folashade Ijamilusi (Liaoning Shenyang), and Deborah Abiodun.

Notable Absentees Raise Eyebrows

Four high-performing players were conspicuously omitted from Nigeria’s final 24-player squad for WAFCON 2024 – Gift Monday (Washington Spirit), Joy Omewa (Fortuna Hjørring), Edna Imade (Granada CF), and Bolaji Olamide (Remo Stars Ladies).

Monday, who has hit top form in the NWSL with four goals in seven games for the Spirit, had earlier netted 10 goals in 19 matches during a standout season with Spain’s Tenerife. Her exclusion is seen as one of the biggest surprises in Madugu’s selection.

Equally shocking is the absence of Omewa, widely regarded as Nigeria’s most prolific striker in 2025. The Fortuna Hjørring star scored 22 goals in 23 games, leading her club to a domestic double and finishing as the Danish league’s top scorer.

Spain-based Edna Imade, fan favourites at Granada, also misses out despite finishing second on the Liga F scoring charts with 16 goals. Born in Morocco to Nigerian parents from Edo State and raised in Spain, Imade’s dynamic style and consistent performances had made a compelling case for inclusion.

In the domestic scene, Remo Stars Ladies forward Bolaji Olamide enjoyed a breakout campaign in the Nigeria Women Football League Premiership, scoring 15 goals in 19 appearances to propel her team into title contention in just their second topflight season.

Positional Breakdown

Paris FC goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie leads the goalkeeping unit alongside Tochukwu Oluehi and debutant Unachukwu.

The backline includes Plumptre (Al-Ittihad), Ohale (Pachuca), Alozie (Houston Dash), and Galatasaray’s Blessing Demehin, along with promising additions Oladipo, Isah, and Usani.

Midfield responsibilities will be shared by captain Ajibade, Ayinde, Toni Payne, Jennifer Echegini, Christy Ucheibe, and 2023 World Cup breakout star Deborah Abiodun.

Up front, Oshoala will spearhead the attack, supported by Ordega, Onumonu, Okoronkwo, Rinsola Babajide, Veronica Ihezuo, Ijamilusi, and Okafor.

Group B Challenge

Nigeria has been drawn into Group B alongside Algeria, Tunisia, and Botswana. The Super Falcons will be seeking a 10th continental title after disappointedly finishing fourth in 2022.

Nigeria Squad for WAFCON 2024 – Morocco

Goalkeepers:

• Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France)

• Tochukwu Oluehi (Shulalat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia)

• Udoka Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons, Nigeria)

Defenders:

• Osinachi Ohale (Pachuca, Mexico)

• Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA)

• Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray, Turkey)

• Ashleigh Plumptre (Al-Ittihad, Saudi Arabia)

• Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma, Italy)

• Sikiratu Isah (Nasarawa Amazons, Nigeria)

• Miracle Usani (Edo Queens, Nigeria)

Midfielders:

• Rasheedat Ajibade (Atlético Madrid, Spain)

• Halimatu Ayinde (Rosengård, Sweden)

• Toni Payne (Everton, England)

• Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint-Germain, France)

• Deborah Abiodun (Dallas Trinity FC, USA)

• Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal)

Forwards:

• Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC, USA)

• Francisca Ordega (Al-Ittihad, Saudi Arabia)

• Veronica Ihezuo (Pachuca, Mexico)

• Ifeoma Onumonu (Montpellier, France)

• Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto, Canada)

• Rinsola Babajide (Costa Adeje Tenerife, Spain)

• Folashade Ijamilusi (Liaoning Shenyang, China)

• Chioma Okafor (University of Connecticut, USA)

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

See Full Bio