Paris 2024: Nigeria names final squad for Women’s Olympic Football as Ebi, Ordega omitted
Head Coach Randy Waldrum has announced Nigeria’s final squad list for the Paris 2024 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade of Atletico Madrid, Paris FC goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Osinachi Ohale, and forward Asisat Oshoala are among the players listed to represent the country at the Summer Olympics for the first time since 2008 in China.
Goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi is the only player who participated in the Beijing Games that made the list, but all-time appearance record holder Onome Ebi, who was also part of the team for the last Olympics, missed out on the chance to represent the country for the 15th major tournament.
Omorinsola Babajide, Ashleigh Plumptre, Rofiat Imuran, Esther Onyenezide, Peace Efih, Opeyemi Ajakaye, and Francisca Ordega are also part of the notable exclusions from the squad list.
The trimming down of the squad was expected as teams were required to register a squad of 18 players instead of the regular 23 for the Women’s World Cup or 26 for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Albeit, the teams were given the chance to name an additional four alternate players, which will contain three outfielders and one goalkeeper, and in the event of a serious injury during the tournament, an injured player would be able to be replaced by one of the players on the alternate list.
Rivers Angels’ shot-stopper Morufat Ademola, who was recently awarded the best goalkeeper in the NWFL 2023/2024 Super 6, was picked as the alternate goalkeeper, while 18-year-old defender Jumoke Alani joined her as the only two locally based players in the entire team.
They are scheduled to depart Sevilla, Spain, for a two-week preparatory journey on Thursday, 4 July, and depart for France on 18 July to tackle Brazil, Spain, and Japan in Group C of this year’s tournament.
Their first game, against Brazil, comes up at the Stade Bordeaux on 25 July, before confrontations with Spain (28 July) and Japan (31 July) both at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.
Super Falcons Full Squad for Paris 2024 Olympics
Goalkeepers:
– Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC)
– Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia)
Defenders:
– Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico)
– Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France)
– Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA)
– Nicole Payne (Portland Thorns FC, USA)
– Chidinma Okeke (Mynavi Sendai Ladies, Japan)
Midfielders:
– Deborah Abiodun (University of Pittsburgh, USA)
– Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosengard, Sweden)
– Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal)
– Jennifer Echegini (Juventus Ladies, Italy)
– Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain)
Forwards:
– Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain)
– Esther Okoronkwo (Changchun FC, China)
– Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC, USA)
– Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA)
– Chiwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico)
– Chinonyerem Macleans (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia)
Alternate Players:
– Jumoke Alani (Nasarawa Amazons)
– Ifeoma Onumonu (Utah Royals, USA)
– Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain)
– Morufa Ademola (Rivers Angels)
