Jennifer Onyi Echegini gets late Nigeria call-up against Haiti and New Zealand

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria defender Jennifer Onyi Echegini has been given a late call-up to the senior women’s national team ahead of next month’s international friendlies in Turkey.

The Super Falcons will face Haiti at the Emir Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey on Friday, 7th April, before taking on World Cup co-hosts New Zealand at the Mardan Sports Complex also in Antalya on Tuesday, 11th April.

The test matches in April are to further test the strength of the African representatives against other Women’s World Cup-bound teams, with this year’s edition being the biggest FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in history.

With the omission of South Korea based Chinaza Uchendu, the Florida State University player has been added to complete 24-player squad after an impressive display for the maiden Revelation Cup outing.

Echegini played five of Nigeria’s last seven games since featuring for the West African giants during a 2-0 loss to Canada on April 4, 2022.

The midfielder superbly provided the assist for Esther Okoronkwo for Nigeria’s lone goal against Costa Rica in the last match of the maiden Revelation Cup as Waldrum side ended a seven-game winless streak.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Yewande Balogun (AS Saint-Etienne, France); Inyene Etim (Abia Angels)

Defenders: Onome Ebi (Abia Angels); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City, England); Glory Ogbonna (Besiktas JK, Turkey); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France);

Midfielders: Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosengard, Sweden); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (FC Levante Las Planas, Spain); Deborah Abiodun (Rivers Angels); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (AS Saint-Etienne, France), Onyi Echegini (Florida State University)

Forwards: Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona, Spain); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Esther Okoronkwo (AS Saint-Etienne, France); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, Kentucky, USA); Desire Oparanozie (Wuhan Chegu Jianghan, China); Gift Monday (UDG Tenerife, Spain)