SUPER Falcons’ star striker Asisat Oshoala and experienced defender Ashley Plumptre are part of the list of players named by coach Justin Madugu for the 2024 Women’s African Cup of Nations.
The list released on Friday also has captain Rasheedat Ajibade, with 11 players set to make their debuts at the tournament which will take place in Morocco from July 5 to 26, 2024.
Three players from the local league are also included in the team, and will be hoping to make their mark and repay the coach’s confidence in them.
Goalkeeper Rachael Unachukwu and defenders Sikiratu Isah and Miracle Usani are the only home-based players included in the team.
Experienced midfielder Halimatu Ayinde, regulars Michelle Alozie, Oluwatosin Demehin, Deborah Abiodun, Christy Ucheibe, Ifeoma Onumonu, and Jennifer Echegini were also called up for the competition.
Nigeria, record WAFCON holders with nine titles, are on a mission to make it ten in Morocco. The Super Falcons are in Group B of the tournament alongside North African sides —Tunisia and Algeria, and the Mares of Botswana.
Already, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has lined up warm-up games against the Black Queens of Ghana and Portugal as part of preparations for the team ahead of the WAFCON.
The Super Falcons will take on Portugal on June 23rd in the Portuguese city of Lisbon before filing out against perennial foes Ghana on the 29th.
The Super Falcons will kick start their campaign against Tunisia on Sunday, July 6, before facing Botswana (July 10) and Algeria (July 13) in Group B.
The top four teams at the tournament will secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Nigeria Squad for 2024 WAFCON (Morocco):
Goalkeepers:
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Free agent, last at Paris FC, France), Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia), Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons)
Defenders:
Osinachi Ohale (Pachuca, Mexico) Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma, Italy), Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA), Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies FC, Saudi Arabia), Sikiratu Isah (Nasarawa Amazons), Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray, Turkey), Miracle Usani (Edo Queens)
Midfielders:
Rasheedat Ajibade (Free agent, last at Atletico Madrid, Spain), Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosenborg, Sweden), Deborah Abiodun (Dallas Trinity, USA), Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Toni Payne (Everton Ladies, England), Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal)
Forwards:
Francisca Ordega (Ittihad Ladies Club, Saudi Arabia), Chinwendu Ihezuo (Pachuca, Mexico), Ifeoma Onumonu (Montpellier FC, France), Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto, Canada), Omorinsola Babajide (Costa Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain), Folashade Ijamilusi(Liaoning Shenyang Shenbei Hefeng, China), Chioma Okafor (University of Connecticut, USA).