SUPER Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum has invited 35 players to the team’s camp ahead of the final qualifying tie for the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The Nigerian ladies are up against Cote d’Ivoire for a spot in the tournament scheduled for Morocco in July.
The Super Falcons will host the Ivorian ladies in Abuja on 18 February, with the return leg set for Abidjan five days later.
Leading the 35 invitees is Super Falcons captain and Barcelona forward Asisat Oshoala, with strikers Desire Oparanozie, Vivian Ikechukwu and Gift Monday also invited, along with veterans Onome Ebi, Rita Chikwelu and Francesca Ordega.
To reach the final qualifying round, nine-time African champions Super Falcons edged out the Black Queens of Ghana 2-1 on aggregate in October, while the Lady Elephants trounced Niger Republic 20-0 over two legs.
The Nigeria Football Federation says all invited players are expected to arrive in Abuja on Tuesday, 1 February to begin preparations.
INVITED SUPER FALCONS PLAYERS:
Goalkeepers:
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Tochukwu Oluehi (Maccabi Kishronot Hadera, Israel); Christy Ohiaeriaku (Sunshine Queens); Yewande Balogun (USA)
Defenders:
Rofiat Imuran (Rivers Angels); Glory Ogbonna (Santa Teresa FC, Spain); Onome Ebi (Minsk FC, Belarus); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Ayomide Ojo (Edo Queens); Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City, England); Joy Duru (Nasarawa Amazons); Nicole Payne (West Virginia University, USA); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Akudo Ogbonna (Edo Queens)
Midfielders:
Peace Efih (Kiryat Gat, Israel); Yetunde Aluko (WFC Ramat Hasharon, Israel); Amanda Mbadinuju (Bayelsa Queens); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (Eskilstuna FC, Sweden); Grace Igboamalu (Bayelsa Queens); Toni Oyedupe Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (Minsk FC, Belarus); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Rita Chikwelu (Madrid CFF, Spain); Amarachi Okoronkwo (Nasarawa Amazons); Deborah Abiodun (Rivers Angels)
Forwards:
Esther Okoronkwo (AS Saint Etienne, France); Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Desire Oparanozie (Dijon FC, France); Vivian Ikechukwu (Rivers Angels); Gift Monday (FC Robo Queens); Juliet Bassey (Bayelsa Queens); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Uchenne Kanu (Tigres Femenil, Mexico); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain).
