Paris 2024: Randy Waldrum names injured Halimatu Ayinde’s Olympic replacement

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

As a result of injury to midfielder Halimatu Ayinde, Nigeria women’s head coach Randy Waldrum has named his replacement for the Rosengard FC midfielder.

The University of Pittsburgh gaffer has moved forward Ifeoma Onumonu from the four-alternate list to the 18-player squad in place of Ayinde.

Three-time African title winner Ayinde was ruled out of the team as a result of a knee injury.

On the other hand, former FK Minsk and Saint Etienne player Regina Otu has been invited as an alternate player.

She will join Jumoke Alani (Nasarawa Amazons); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); and Morufa Ademola (Rivers Angels) on the alternate players list.

Meanwhile, team captain Rasheedat Ajibade and first-choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie are already in camp in the city of Jerez de la Frontera outside Sevilla.

Goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi, defenders Chidinma Okeke and Nicole Payne, midfielders Christy Ucheibe, Toni Payne, Deborah Abiodun, and Jennifer Echegini, and forward Esther Okoronkwo also in the team camp.

Alternate players, goalkeeper Morufa Ademola, and forward Gift Monday are also in camp as of Monday.

The camp is expected to swell in the coming days as the team prepares to face Olympic champions Canada in a friendly match on July 17.

They will face Brazil, Spain, and Japan in Group C hoping to equal or surpass their best performance at the women’s football event of the Olympics which was a quarter-final finish at Athens 2004 in Greece.