National Teams
Paris 2024 Qualifiers: Super Falcons camp to open on Easter Sunday
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Players invited by the head coach of Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, Randy Waldrum for the decisive two-legged Paris 2024 Olympics Qualifiers against African champions, South Africa are set to resume camp next weekend.
The 22 invited players have been directed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to report to their usual Abuja camp on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024, for a few days of training before the cracker against Banyana Banyana next Friday according to Prompt News.
This is coming after their opponents, Banyana Banyana opened camp on Monday for the fourth Round of the Qualifiers.
Super Falcons camp had been silent ahead of the games with South Africa releasing their provisional squad some weeks back and are expected to release the final roster of 23 players this week.
Coach Desiree Ellis has started preparation with home-based players in Pretoria while the Super Falcons are yet to commence training.
Waldrum invited two home-based players for the final round of the Qualifiers as Linda Jiwaku (Bayelsa Queens) earned another invitation while FC Robo Queens Shukurat Oladipo got her maiden call-up.
It is barely a week to the first leg on April 5 in Abuja while the return leg is billed for April 9.
With the group stage opponents of both sides at the Olympics known ahead of the final qualifiers, it now behooves the last two winners of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) to pick one of Africa’s two tickets at the women’s football event of the Olympics come April 9.
ALL THE INVITED SUPER FALCONS PLAYERS FOR BANYANA BANYANA CLASH:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Linda Jiwuaku (Bayelsa Queens)
Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachuca Club de Futbol, Mexico); Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies, Saudi Arabia); Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Nicole Payne (Portland Thorns FC, USA); Chidinma Okeke (Mynavi Sendai Ladies, Japan)
Midfielders: Deborah Abiodun (University of Pittsburgh, USA); Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosengard, Sweden); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Jennifer Echegini (Juventus Ladies, Italy); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain)
Forwards: Omorinsola Babajide (Costa Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Esther Okoronkwo (Changchun FC, China); Ifeoma Onumonu (SLC Utah, USA); Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC, USA); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Gift Monday (Costa Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Chiwendu Ihezuo (Pachuca Club de Futbol, Mexico)