FALCONETS head coach Chris Danjuma has invited 35 players to camp as the team begin preparations for the African qualifying series for the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
The qualifiers for the competition enter the second round in the third week of September.
The Nigerian team, runners-up at the U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2010 and 2014, were drawn bye to the second round, and will play Central African Republic in the first leg scheduled for between 23 September and 25 September, with the return leg in Nigeria between 7 October and 9 October.
Equatorial Guinea were originally scheduled to face the Central Africans in the first round but withdrew from the race, giving them a free pass to the second round.
Interestingly, the return leg between the Falconets and the Central African Republic will be held around the same period as the clash between the senior men’s teams of both countries in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Lagos.
If they beat Central African Republic as expected, the Falconets must scale two more rounds to qualify for the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica and Panama.
Apart from their silver medals in 2010 and 2014, the Falconets also reached the semi-finals of the 2012 competition staged in Japan.
The invited players are to report at the Chida Hotel, Utako, Abuja on Sunday with their training kits, international e-passport, certificate of birth and letter of consent, according to a Nigeria Football Federation statement.
The U-20 World Cup has produced star players for the Super Falcons, including Asisat Oshoala, Desire Oparanozie and Rasheedat Ajibade.
LIST OF INVITED PLAYERS:
Shukurat Baraka (Edo Queens); Nelly Ekeh (Sunshine Queens); Monle Omini (Bayelsa Queens); Linda Jiwara (Confluence Queens); Iyems Etim (Abia Angels); Oluwatosin Demehin (Rivers Angels); Rofiat Imuran (Rivers Angels); Jumoke Anani (Edo Queens); Oluwabunmi Oladeji (Naija Ratels); Omowunmi Oshobukola (Sunshine Queens); Chinemerem Michael (Delta Queens); Sharon Onwere (Skillful Star); Chidinma Ogbuchi (FC Robo Queens); Chidinma Anaele (Imo Angels); Paulina Ali (Naija Ratels); Basirat Amoo (Nasarawa Amazons); Amarachi Odoma (Nasarawa Amazons); Celine Ottah (Bayelsa Queens); Yena Ado (Nasarawa Amazons); Vera Samuel (Royal Queens); Zainab Oladapo (Bayelsa Queens); Esther Onyenezide (FC Robo Queens); Deborah Abiodun (Rivers Angels); Oluwadamilola Kuku (Osun Babes); Chiamaka Nwachukwu (Royal Queens); Joy Jerry (Bayelsa Queens); Blessing Okpe (Rivers Angels); Mercy Idoko (Nasarawa Amazons); Yemisi Samuel (Edo Queens); Tarnum Dooshima (Nasarawa Amazons); Flourish Sebastine (Edo Queens); Martha Peter (Confluence Queens); Juliet Adebowale (Brighton & Hoves Albion UK); Taiwo Lawal (FC Robo Queens); Joy Omewa (Denmark B93).
