Wafron Qualifier: Waldrum invites Oshoala, Nnadozie, Ajibade and others, for Saò Tome

Sep 15, 2023 - 14:10

Harry Awurumibe,

All but four players who represented Nigeria in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 have been invited for the first leg of the first round of the Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2024 qualifiers against Saò Tome and Principe slated for Mobolaji Johnson Stadium, Lagos next weekend.

According to Prompt News, the Super Falcons gaffer Randy Waldrum has turned in his much-awaited 23-woman list to the Technical Department of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for vetting and approval before the list will be released to the media.

It was also exclusively gathered that the list will contain the names of almost the 23 players registered by Nigeria in the last World Cup in Australia and New Zealand with the likes of reliable goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie; forward Asisat Oshoala and hardworking midfielder Christy Ucheibe making the cut.

However, four players including third-choice goalkeeper Yewande Balogun of Saint-Étienne, France, and Desire Oparanozie of Wuhan Chegu Jianghan, China, who recently announced her retirement from professional football are excluded from the list. They have been replaced with four Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) players.

The Super Falcons list for Saò Tome and Principe will likely have:

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC), Tochukwu Oluehi (Hakkarigücü Spor), and a home-based goalkeeper.

Defenders are:

Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alavés), Glory Ogbonna (ALG Spor), Oluwatosin Demehin (Reims) Rofiat Imuran (Reims), Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash) and Onome Ebi (Abia Angels).

Others are midfielders Halimatu Ayinde (Rosengård), Christy Ucheibe (Benfica), Toni Payne (Sevilla), Deborah Abiodun (Pittsburgh), Rasheedat Ajibade (Atlético Madrid) and Jennifer Echegini (Florida State Seminoles).

Forward are Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona), Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville FC), Ifeoma Onumonu (NJ/NY Gotham), Esther Okoronkwo (Saint-Étienne) and Gift Monday (UD Granadilla Tenerife).