Head Coach of the Super Falcons of Nigeria, Randy Waldrum has announced the final squad for this year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in France.
The team was led by Captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender, Osinachi Ohale, and forward, Asisat Oshoala, and 14 other players. Also on the list are 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 will depart Sevilla for France on Thursday, 18th July.
Nine-time African champions, Nigeria are making their first appearance at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament since 2008 in Beijing, China. At this year’s tournament, they will face Brazil, Spain, and Japan in that order.
The Super Falcons secured their spot in the 12-team tournament by edging South Africa’s Banyana Banyana 1-0 in the final qualifying round, with Ajibade’s penalty in Abuja making the difference over two legs in April.
Their first match against Brazil will be at Stade Bordeaux on the 25th of July, followed by games against Spain (28th of July) and Japan (31st of July) at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.