Ajibade, Oshoala, Nnadozie Lead Falcons’ WAFCON Charge

The Nigeria Football Federation have announced the 24-woman squad for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in July.

Al Ittihad defender Ashleigh Plumptre has not gotten a lot of minutes for Nigeria since her move to Al Ittihad, but that is about to change, as coach Austine Madugu has named her in his list.

Also, former Barcelona star and six-time CAF Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala is back in the squad after missing the last game against Cameroon.

Meanwhile, some of the regulars like Chiamaka Nnadozie, Michelle Alozie, Toni Payne, and captain Rasheedat Ajibade have kept their places on the team. However, there is no no for Gift Monday and Uchenna Kanu.

Coach Madugu has named three Nigerian Women Football League players in his squad – Udoka Unachukwu, and Isah Sikiratu from Nasarawa Amazons, and Miracle Usani from Edo Queens.

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (just finished contract with Paris FC, France); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons)

Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, 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 Sportive, Turkey); Miracle Usani (Edo Queens)

Midfielders: Rasheedat Ajibade (just finished contract with Atletico Madrid, Spain); Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosenburg, 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 (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Ifeoma Onumonu (Montpellier FC, France); Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto, Canada); Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Folashade Ijamilusi (Liaoning Shenyang Shenbei Hefeng, China); Chioma Okafor (University of Connecticut, USA)

The Super Falcons will begin their 2024 WAFCON campaign on July 6 with a game against Tunisia. Then, they will play Botswana four days later. They will conclude their group stage game with a fixture against Algeria.

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