Pre-WAFCON Friendlies: Justine Madugu invites Gift Monday, omits Asisat Oshoala for Cameroon clash

Head Coach of Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, Justine Madugu, has named a 25-player squad for this month’s high-profile international friendly against Cameroon in Yaoundé, as preparations intensify ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The headline inclusion is in-form forward Gift Monday of Washington Spirit, whose consistent performances at club level have earned her a return to the Super Falcons fold.

Monday’s pace, directness, and improved end product are expected to add attacking variety to Madugu’s options.

The coach retained key figures in the squad, including captain Rasheedat Ajibade, first-choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, and forwards Esther Okoronkwo and Chinwendu Ihezuo, underlining a blend of experience and attacking depth.

The biggest talking point from the list is the absence of record African Women’s Player of the Year, Asisat Oshoala. The decision to leave out the prolific striker has sparked conversations among fans and pundits alike, having featured for Super Falcons since 2011.

While no official reason has been communicated, the omission may be part of a broader tactical evaluation or squad rotation strategy as Madugu assesses alternative attacking combinations ahead of major tournaments.

It could also provide an opportunity to test emerging forwards in competitive settings, ensuring depth and flexibility within the squad.

Canada-based Midfield veteran Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene makes a return to the team, bringing valuable experience and leadership in the middle of the park. She is joined by Chidinma Okeke, with both players currently plying her trade in Mexico.

Goalkeeper Comfort Erhabor and forward Precious Christopher received their first senior national team invitations. Their inclusion signals Madugu’s intent to widen the talent pool and reward strong domestic and overseas performances.

The squad also features dependable names such as Osinachi Ohale, Michelle Alozie, Oluwatosin Demehin, Ashleigh Plumptre, Halimatu Ayinde, Christy Ucheibe, Deborah Abiodun, Jennifer Echegini, Rinsola Babajide, and Folashade Ijamilusi, reinforcing a strong spine across defence and midfield.

The friendly against Cameroon offers the Super Falcons a valuable West African derby to test cohesion, tactical shape, and squad chemistry. With a mix of established stars, returning figures, and fresh call-ups, Madugu appears keen on balancing continuity with experimentation as Nigeria fine-tunes preparations for continental assignments.

The coming days in Yaoundé will not only provide competitive action but also clarity on the pecking order within the evolving Super Falcons setup.

The first match against the Lionesses will hold on Saturday, 28th February, with the second coming up on Tuesday, 3rd March.

The final tournament of the 13th Women Africa Cup of Nations has been confirmed for the Kingdom of Morocco for the period 17th March – 3rd April, with all four semi-finalists qualifying directly to next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Brazil.

SUPER FALCONS FOR FRIENDLY MATCHES VS CAMEROON:

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton Hove & Albion, England); Comfort Erhabor (Portsmouth Ladies, England); Fatima Oloko (Abia Angels); Anderline Mgbechi (Rivers Angels)

Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma, Italy); Michelle Alozie (Chicago Stars, USA); Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies FC, Saudi Arabia); Glory Ogbonna (FC Kiryat Gat, Israel); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive, Turkey); Sikiratu Isah (Bnot Netanya, Israel); Chidinma Okeke (Club America, Mexico)

Midfielders: Halimatu Ayinde (Christian Lundstrom, Sweden); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (Ottawa Rapids, Canada); Deborah Abiodun (Washington Spirit, USA); Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint Germain, France); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Precious Christopher (Yanga Princess, Tanzania)

Forwards: Rasheedat Ajibade (Paris Saint Germain, France); Chinwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Gift Monday (Washington Spirit, USA); Joy Omewa (Nottingham Forest, England); Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto, Canada); Folashade Ijamilusi (Liaoning Shenyang Shenbei Hefeng, China); Omorinsola Babajide (AS Roma, Italy)

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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