₦airaland Forum

FULL LIST: Super Falcons squad for WAFCON qualifiers

The Nigerian Football Federation has announced a 24-player roster for the Super Falcons’ first-round qualifiers for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The 2024 WAFCON will be the 15th edition of the biennial African women’s football tournament organised by the Confederation of African Football and it is scheduled to hold in Morocco.

Notable returns to the squad include Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade, and Chiamaka Nnadozie, who will represent Nigeria in the double-legged clash against Sao Tome and Principe.

Other players listed in the squad are Michelle Alozie, Christy Ucheibe, Toni Payne, Ifeaoma Onumonu, and Gift Monday. The inclusion of nine home-based players, including Onome Ebi, Esther Onyenezide, Flourish Sebastien, and Opeyemi Ajakaye, highlights the commitment to local talent.

However, absent from the list are Ashleigh Plumptre, Uchenna Kanu, and Francesca Ordega.

Nigeria will host Sao Tome at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium on September 22 for the first leg of the encounter before travelling for the return leg four days later.

This encounter will mark the Super Falcons’ return to action since their participation in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where they reached the second round.

Full list:

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Monle Oyono (Bayelsa Queens)

Defenders: Onome Ebi (Naija Ratels); Akudo Ogbonna (Remo Stars Ladies); Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Nicole Payne (Paris Saint Germain, France); Jumoke Alani (Edo Queens); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France)

Midfielders: Peace Efih (Sporting Club de Braga, Portugal); Esther Onyenezide (FC Robo Queens); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (AS Saint Etienne, France)

Forwards: Flourish Sebastine (Bayelsa Queens); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona Feminine, Spain); Vivian Ikechukwu (Besiktas JK, Turkey); Gift Monday (UDG Tenerife, Spain); Chiamaka Okuchukwu (Rivers Angels); Opeyemi Ajakaye (FC Robo Queens).

Today, Former Governor(s) of Lagos State - Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) @tundefashola and Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode @AkinwunmiAmbode shared their experiences with the new Lagos State Cabinet Members at the ongoing Retreat Programme at the Jubilee Chalets, Epe. They both talked about things that the State Government should be doing differently.

Governor @jidesanwoolu thanked them very well for their continued service to Lagos State.

lovewins:
It still doesn't change anything I highlighted. Professional boxing, arranged or otherwise wouldn't hinder any other person. It is largely a money sport andike you pointed out, Bash Ali was at liberty to use his money or seek for funds to sponsor his adventures. Point is, it won't be at any other person's expense. One's case is different.

lovewins:
My guy, you're comparing apples and oranges. The sport you referenced isn't a team sport. If onome was a sprinter or a boxer as referenced, no one with have issues with her dreaming. There's very little any sport federation can do with individual sports. There are benchmarks for qualifications and as long as you meet them you're good, you however can use your links to get a spot in them, you can only do that with team sports.

I'll give an example, one of the male athletes at the just concluded world athletics championship was Seye Ogunlewe one time Nigerian champion and team captain for all athletes. He didn't make the championship in 2022 cause he didn't meet the mark and being team captain didn't change that. He however worked on himself and hit the benchmark, there's obviously no denying him then. The best 400m female hurdler in Nigeria (George Patience Okon) is also the oldest. No one cann fault that cause she hits the mark.

Football however isn't an individual sport, it is a team sport. You can ride on the accomplishment of others to make the team. Nigeria didn't qualify for next year's Olympics (for the guys) cause of the same thing. A young Lebanese guy who naturalized was invited to the team with no known football history. The closest thing to football we knew about him was that he signed for an Azerbaijan 2nd Division nameless club 2 weeks before his invite. He is just a small example of the list the NFF and Salisu drew. Wasn't surprised Nigeria was knocked out buy Guinea.

Point is, while we continue to call out the NFF, we expect little of them. We would however hold players who have worn the shirt and we've fought for their rights over the years to the highest ideals. We expect these players not to add to the problems we already face. Why is her dream not reflecting to club sides. Why has she been inactive for about 2 years and club less for a year. Why is the dream suddenly not working where merit is demanded?