Head Coach Justine Madugu has selected captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and forwards Francisca Ordega and Asisat Oshoala among a list of 24 players for the Super Falcons’ quest for a 10th continental title at the 13th Women Africa Cup of Nations finals to be staged 5th – 26th July in Morocco, reports thegazellenews.com.
One notable inclusion is Chioma Okafor of University of Connecticut in US. Okafor pledged her loyalty to Nigeria despite being eligible to play for Malawi. Okafor was born to a Nigerian father and a Malawian mother, and despite having been living in the US since 2019, she is very fluent in Chichewa, one of the major languages spoken in Malawi. She was also born in Malawi.
However, there is still no place for Edna Imade, second highest scorer in La Liga F League, despite committing her international to playing for Nigeria.
Madugu would have a lot of explanations to make for having to drop Imade but taking along veteran Francesca Ordega who many believe is past her best.
The Falcons coach is also being taken to task for not inviting and taking along Comfort Erhabor of English side Portsmouth but prefer to take Rachael Unachukwu, second keeper of local side, Nasarawa Amazons. Unachukwu is not even the first keeper of her local side.
A healthy percentage of the squad started training sessions in the Federal Capital, Abuja on Thursday, 19 June, 2025, and will also train on Friday, 20 June, and Saturday, 21 June, 2025, before their departure to the final training camp in Lisbon, Portugal on the morning of Sunday, 22 June, 2025.
Madugu has also picked Saudi Arabia-based flamboyant defender Ashleigh Plumptre, US-based fans’ favourite Michelle Alozie, veteran defender Osinachi Ohale and midfielders Deborah Abiodun, Jennifer Echegini and Christy Ucheibe.
Home-based goalkeeper Rachael Unachukwu and defenders Sikiratu Isah and Miracle Usani also make the cut, while midfield lynchpin Halimatu Ayinde makes a return to the fold.
Already, the Nigeria Football Federation has sealed friendly matches for the team with the senior women national teams of Portugal and Ghana, to put them in a competitive mood ahead of their Group B encounters against Tunisia, Botswana and Algeria at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.
The Falcons go up against their Portuguese counterparts in Lisbon on Monday, 23 June, 2025 and will then take on the Black Queens of Ghana in Morocco on Sunday, 29 June, 2025.
SUPER FALCONS FOR 13TH WAFCON FINALS:
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)
