New Super Falcons coach names strong squad for Turkish Women’s Cup

NEW Super Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum has called up 23 players into his first squad for the Turkish Women’s Cup, also known as the Alanya Gold City Cup.

The African champions are expected to arrive in Antalya, Turkey on Monday to participate in the fifth edition of the competition taking place from 15 February to 24 February.

It is the first time the Super Falcons will be playing since they were upset by Cote d’Ivoire in the race for a Tokyo Olympics women’s football event spot.

Most of the players Waldrum has invited featured at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, where they reached the round of 16.

Barcelona striker and African Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala as well as goalkeepers Tochukwu Oluehi and Chiamaka Nnadozie are in the squad along with defenders Onome Ebi and Chidinma Okeke.

Midfielders Rita Chikwelu, Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene and Halimatu Ayinde, and forwards Gift Monday and Rasheedat Ajibade are also called up.

Ukraine, Serbia, India, Bulgaria, Uzbekistan and Equatorial Guinea have all been confirmed so far for the 10-day tournament, while Tokyo Olympics-bound Zambia have pulled out for undisclosed reasons.

Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Uzbekistan will play in the same group of the tournament regarded as one of the best on the women’s football calendar worldwide.

 The Falcons will aim to become the first African side to win the tournament, following the third place finish by Ghana’s Black Queens last year. Chile won the trophy with Hungary as runners-up.

 Poland (2017) and France (2018 and 2019) are the other previous winners of the Alanya Gold City Cup.

SUPER FALCONS SQUAD FOR FOR ALANYA GOLD CITY CUP

Goalkeepers: Tochukwu Oluehi (C.D. Pozoalbense, Spain); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Christy Ohiaeriaku (Edo Queens)

Defenders: Onome Ebi; Glory Ogbonna (Edo Queens); Osinachi Ohale (Madrid CFF, Spain); Mariam Ibrahim (Nasarawa Amazons); Chidinma Okeke (Madrid CFF, Spain); Habeebat Akinwande (FC Robo)

Midfielders: Rita Chikwelu (Madrid CFF, Spain); Esther Sunday (ALG SPOR, Turkey); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (Eskilstuna, Sweden); Antoinette Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Halimatu Ayinde (Eskilstuna, Sweden); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Patricia George (Sands FC, Germany)

Forwards: Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain); Uchenna Kanu (Linkopings, Sweden); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Francisca Ordega; Chinwendu Ihezuo; Gift Monday (FC Robo); Charity Adule (SD Eibar, Spain).