Paris 2024: Super Falcons hold first training session with six players in Addis Ababa

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Only six players were avaliable as the Nigeria’s senior women’s national team observed their first training session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopian capital, on Monday afternoon.

The players and officials of the West African nation arrived in Addis Ababa from Lagos with six players in camp on Sunday evening and were immediately ferried to their camp base at the Ramada Addis Hotel.

Players present for the training were Comfort Folorunsho, Jumoke Alani, Opeyemi Ajakaye, Monle Oyono and lately called up duo of Esther Onyenezide, and Esther Akudo Ogbonna.

The Super Falcons held their first training at the Abebe Bikila Stadium under the watch of Nigerian assistant coaches led by Justine Madugu on Monday. The nine-time African champions will continue their preparations on Tuesday as they expect foreign internationals later on Monday evening.

Nicknamed ‘Lucy’, the Ethiopian thrashed Chad 10-0 on aggregate in the First Round of the Olympic qualifiers in July 2023 as they hope to qualify for the Olympics for the first time after their three appearances at the Women’s African Cup of Nations with their best finish being a fourth-placed placement in 2004.

After the first leg on Wednesday, Nigeria will host the second leg of the second-round fixture at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, on Tuesday, October 31, 2023.

The winner of the two-legged second-round tie between Nigeria and Ethiopia will trade tackles with either Cameroon or Uganda in the Third Round.

The West African football giants hope to make it to their fourth Olympics after previous appearances in 2000, 2004, and 2008.