Super Falcons: Ashley Plumptre returns in 28-player squad for Olympic qualifier

Ashley Plumptre has been recalled as interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen named 28 players for Nigeria’s second-round Olympic qualifying tie against Comoros.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, Michelle Alozie and Plumptre are among the senior players selected as the Super Falcons begin their route towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

The squad also includes Asisat Oshoala, Toni Payne, Christy Ucheibe, Jennifer Echegini, Uchenna Kanu and Gift Monday, alongside several younger players seeking to establish themselves in the senior team.

Nigeria will play Comoros over two legs, with the first match taking place on Friday, October 9. Comoros are officially the home side, but the game will be held at Remo Stars Sports Stadium in Ikenne-Remo because they do not have a CAF-approved venue.

The return fixture is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, also at Remo Stars Sports Stadium. Nigeria’s players have been told to report to AM2PM Hotel in Ijebu-Ode on Saturday, October 3.

Victory on aggregate will take Nigeria into the third round of the five-fixture Olympic qualifying campaign, which is scheduled to run through December next year.

Qualification would give the Super Falcons a chance to return to the Olympic women’s football tournament after they missed the Paris 2024 Games.

Nigeria squad

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton Hove & Albion, England), Comfort Erhabor (Portsmouth Ladies, England), Christiana Uzoma (Edo Queens).

Defenders: Michelle Alozie (Chicago Stars, USA), Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma, Italy), Farida Abdulwahab (Nasarawa Amazons), Glory Ogbonna (Besiktas JK, Turkey), Oluwatosin Demehin (SL Benfica, Portugal), Glory Edet (Bayelsa Queens), Ashley Plumptre (Al-Ittihad Ladies, Saudi Arabia), Tumininu Adeshina (Edo Queens).

Midfielders: Christy Ucheibe (Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia), Joy Igbokwe (Nasarawa Amazons), Favour Nkwocha (FC Robo Queens), Fatimoh Solaty (Nasarawa Amazons), Suliat Abideen (Fenerbahce Ladies, Turkey), Toni Payne (Inter Milan, Italy), Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint Germain, France).

Forwards: Rasheedat Ajibade (Paris Saint Germain, France), Asisat Oshoala (Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia), Flourish Sabastine (SL Benfica, Portugal), Shakirat Moshood (SCU Torreense, Portugal), Gift Monday (Washington Spirit, USA), Joy Omewa (BK Hacken, Sweden), Blessing Nkor (Dynamo Brest, Belarus), Oluwakemi Adegbuyi (Edo Queens), Janet Akekoromowei (SL Benfica, Portugal), Uchenna Kanu (Cruz Azul Femenil, Mexico).

The younger players included in the group are Uzoma, Abdulwahab, Adeshina, Nkwocha, Moshood and Adegbuyi.

The match in Ikenne will begin Nigeria’s latest attempt to reach the Olympic Games, with Comoros standing between the Super Falcons and the next stage.