Randy Waldrum has selected captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Osinachi Ohale, forward Asisat Oshoala, and 14 other players for Nigeria’s Super Falcons in the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in France this year.
The final list also includes defenders Oluwatosin Demehin and Michelle Alozie, midfielders Deborah Abiodun, Halimatu Ayinde, Christy Ucheibe, and Toni Payne, as well as forwards Esther Okoronkwo, Chinwendu Ihezuo, and Uchenna Kanu.
The squad members currently in Nigeria will join the home-based players and team officials on an Air France flight from Abuja to Sevilla, Spain on Thursday night.
The rest of the team and technical staff will arrive in Sevilla on Friday for a two-week training camp.
The team is set to depart Sevilla for France on Thursday, 18th July. Nine-time African champions Nigeria will face Brazil, Spain, and Japan in the tournament, marking their return to the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament after 2008 in China.
The Falcons secured their spot in the tournament by defeating South Africa’s Banyana Banyana 1-0 in April, with Ajibade scoring from the penalty spot in Abuja.
Nigeria’s first match against Brazil will take place at the Stade Bordeaux on 25th July, followed by games against Spain on 28th July and Japan on 31st July at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.
SUPER FALCONS FOR PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia)
Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Nicole Payne (Portland Thorns FC, USA); Chidinma Okeke (Mynavi Sendai Ladies, Japan)
Midfielders: Deborah Abiodun (University of Pittsburgh, USA); Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosengard, Sweden); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Jennifer Echegini (Juventus Ladies, Italy); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain)
Forwards: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Esther Okoronkwo (Changchun FC, China); Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC, USA); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Chiwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Chinonyerem Macleans (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia)
Alternate Players: Jumoke Alani (Nasarawa Amazons); Ifeoma Onumonu (Utah Royals, USA); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Morufa Ademola (Rivers Angels)
Ademetan Abayomi