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Oshoala ruled out of Japan friendly as 19 Super Falcons players hit Kobe
Asisat Oshoala has been ruled out of the Nigeria women’s team squad to face Japan in a high-profile friendly match tomorrow in a friendly.
Randy Waldrum will lead the Super Falcons out without the Barcelona star for the friendly match between the two sides will be played at the Noevir Stadium in Kobe as both are preparing for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Oshoala, who missed most of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in July due to injury, is the major absentee in the Nigeria roster already in Kobe for the match.
The five-time Women’s African Player of the Year has recovered from her injury and has featured for Barcelona Femeni in their last three Spanish league fixtures. She scored her first goal of the season in the 4-1 win over Villarreal on September 25 and was in the starting line-up in the 7-0 thrashing of Madrid CFF on Saturday.
There was no reason given for Oshoala’s absence even as it is the FIFA window for international women’s matches.
Gift Monday, Halimatu Ayinde, Yewande Balogun, Regina Otu and Falconets captain Tosin Demehin, Rofiat Imuran, who were all invited, are also unavailable.
Meanwhile, there are 19 Super Falcons players in Kobe ready to take on the 2011 world champions, with the quartet of Amanda Mbadi, Ngozi Okobi, Uchenna Kanu and Vivian Ikechukwu the latest and final arrivals.
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie as well as defenders Ashleigh Plumptre, Osinachi Ohale and Michelle Alozie are among the regular faces in Kobe for the big game.
Other regular players in the squad include Rasheedat Ajibade, Peace Efih, Ifeoma Onumonu and Christy Ucheibe.
Esther Onyenezide, Flourish Sabastine and Deborah Abiodun, who stood out for the Falconets at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica in August, are also in Kobe for the friendly.
Tomorrow’s match will be the fourth between Nigeria and Japan at senior women’s level, with the Asians winning the previous three.
Super Falcons players in Kobe
1. Chiamaka Nnadozie
2. Nkiruka Obidinma
3. Glory Ogbonna
4. Akudo Ogbonna
5. Jumoke Alani
6. Deborah Abiodun
7. Esther Onyenezide
8. Ashleigh Plumptre
9. Rasheedat Ajibade
10. Peace Efih
11. Osinachi Ohale
12. Michelle Alozie
13. Ifeoma Onumonu
14. Flourish Sabastine
15. Christy Ucheibe
16. Amanda Mbadi
17. Ngozi Okobi
18. Uchenna Kanu
19 Vivian Ikechukwu
By Samuel Ahmadu
