Super Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum has invited 32 players for a two-week training camp in Morocco ahead of the 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) which will hold from July 2 to 23.
In a statement by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the training camp would start on June 18 in the North African kingdom, with all players already advised to arrive in Rabat on June 17.
Among those Waldrum listed for the camping exercise include Asisat Oshoala, Onome Ebi, Francisca Ordega, Ashleigh Plumptre and Rasheedat Ajibade.
Others are Chiamaka Nnadozie, Tochukwu Oluehi, Rita Chikwelu, Desire Oparanozie and Uchenna Kanu.
The Falcons, who are the reigning African champions, are in Group C alongside South Africa, Botswana and Burundi at this year’s WAFCON in Morocco.
Waldrum and his Falcons team will open their campaign against South Africa on 4th July.
Also Read: CAF Confed Cup: Ndah Helps Orlando Pirates Seal Final Ticket
The 2022 WAFCON also doubles as the African qualifiers to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The top four teams will qualify for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and two more teams will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.
32 invited players invited to Super Falcons camp in Morocco:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Tochukwu Oluehi (Maccabi Kishronot Hadera, Israel); Rita Akarekor (Nasarawa Amazons); Yewande Balogun (Coppermine United, USA)
Defenders: Opeyemi Sunday (Edo Queens); Glory Ogbonna (Santa Teresa FC, Spain); Onome Ebi (En Avant Guingamp, France); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Ugochi Emenayo (Konak Belediyespor Izmir, Turkey); Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City, England); Nicole Payne (West Virginia University, USA); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Akudo Ogbonna (Edo Queens)
Midfielders: Peace Efih (Kiryat Gat, Israel); Amanda Uju Mbadi (Atasehir Belediyespor, Turkey); Halimatu Ayinde (Eskilstuna FC, Sweden); Charity Adule (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain); 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); Suliat Abideen (Edo Queens)
Forwards: Anam Imo (Pitea IF, Sweden); Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Desire Oparanozie (Wuhan Chegu Jianghan, China); Vivian Ikechukwu (WFC Gintra, Lithuania); Chinonyerem Macleans (GSK Gornik Leczna, Poland); Chinwendu Ihezuo (Meizhou Hakka Club, China); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Uchenna Kanu (Tigres Femenil, Mexico); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain)
13 Comments
Where is Onyinyechi Zogg that chose Nigeria ahead of Switzerland? Does it mean she did not impress when she featured for the Super Falcons that she has been ignored entirely, not even meriting a call up to stake a claim in the team?. Hmnnmm!
Onyinye Zogg sustained a serious cruciate ligament injury in March which was expected to keep her in the sidelines for a while (link below).
Apart from a forgivable mistake against Portugal in the summer series last year, Zogg delivered an acceptable level of performance which indicated she was ready for the rigours of African football.
She will be missed at the Wafcon.
Thanks..at deo, I’ve been wondering why zogg has not received any calls since I including Patricia George and Roosa Ariyo.
God bless you girls
Forget the colour tone. That shouldn’t be a criteria for invitation. With due respect to that girl, she’s not yet there. She was quite awful in all the matches she played in that Summer Series and I know of Nigeria based players that would have done a lot better. She showed some promises though. But come on, that girl is still learning the rope. Africa football pass fine girl matter o.
Can you name one of the Nigeria-based players you’d recommend? Why are you bringing in this bush, racial diatribe and colorism into Nigerian football? Do you have an inferiority complex? I SUSPECT SO !
Why spice your otherwise good comment with a racist undertone. Was color taken into consideration when Ashley’s name is included? Please grow up.
Papafem, stop that racist BS. She is a very good defender with very good passing ability. Yes, she made a mistake against Portugal but otherwise was very solid. Hopefully she recovers in time for the World Cup next year. She’s the future.
I’m no racist, cos I’ve nothing to gsin by bring one. The “colour tone” i mentioned isn’t racist; it only captures the soft spot we tend to have for player of mixed race. I’ve seen Plumptyre use the same expression for her sister. Does that mean she was been racist to her beloved sibling? Responding to a BBC question, Ashleigh said, “I feel like I can hopefully inspire someone like my sister or other kids like her, maybe in this country or other countries, to look at me and be like you know what? It doesn’t matter what your SKIN TONE looks like…” You won’t say she didn’t know what she was saying by using that expression.
Zogg has only suited up twice for her team all season. And her performances in the matches she has played for us havent been that good. So why would the coach invite her for AWCON? Did anyone notice how Nigeria was messed up by SA at Aisha Buhari Invitational? AWCON will be tougher and the gaffer knows this. Sentiment won’t work here. We need our best players. Or does anyone think the coach doesn’t watch those girls, to know their performance? I want the best of our players out there in Moroccco, irrespective of who they or what they represent.
*Sorry, I meant Nigeria’s 1-0 win against Côte D’ivoire in Abidjan, and NOT Abuja.
Esther Ijeoma Okoronkwo from St. eienne of France has been left out, surprisingly! She scored Nigeria’s only goal against Côte D’ivoire in Abidjan to qualify for the forthcoming AWCON in Morocco.
@Chindaar, I heard she has a long term injury. Big loss for the Super Falcons.
Hopefully Dare, Pinnick and Odegbami do not sack Waldrun and bring in Eguavoen and Amuneke to destroy this cracking list of Falcons ready to soar and do Nigeria proud.