October 12, (THEWILL) – The Super Falcons will arrive in Lagos on Sunday, when the nine-time African champions will ramp up their preparations for their 2022 Women’s AFCON qualification match against the Black Queens of Ghana.
In the inaugural edition of the Women Africa Cup of Nations in 1998, Nigeria and Ghana met in the final, which the Falcons won 2-0. These two powerful stallions in the African women’s football race-course have been drawn to compete for one seat in the next edition, which will be held in the Kingdom of Morocco in the summer of 2022.
In June, the Super Falcons competed in the USWNT Summer Series in the United States of America, where they tested their mettle against senior women’s teams from Portugal, Jamaica, and the United States, and in September, they competed in the six-nation Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament hosted by the City of Lagos.
They had previously competed in the Turkish Women’s Cup in Antalya in February, winning all three matches.
Head Coach Randy Waldrum has invited goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defenders Onome Ebi and Osinachi Ohale, midfielders Rasheedat Ajibade and Regina Otu, forwards Asisat Oshoala (captain), Gift Monday, and Vivian Ikechukwu, and 15 others to face the Black Queens in the first leg on Wednesday, October 20th at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
Glory Ogbonna, Rita Chikwelu, and Toni Payne are among the defenders, while Desire Oparanozie, Uchenna Kanu, and Francisca Ordega are among the attackers.
The return match will take place in Accra on Sunday, October 24th. The winner of the two-leg match will compete in the 12th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Morocco next summer.
Invited Squad Sheet
Goalkeepers
Tochukwu Oluehi (Maccabi Kishronot Hadera, Israel); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Yewande Balogun (California Storm, USA)
Defenders
Onome Ebi (Minsk FC, Belarus); Glory Ogbonna (Umea FC, Sweden); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Ayomide Ojo (Edo Queens); Rafiat Imuran (Rivers Angels); Opeyemi Sunday (Edo Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Rivers Angels); Akudo Ogbonna (Edo Queens)
Midfielders
Rita Chikwelu (Madrid CFF, Spain); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Toni Oyedupe Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (Minsk FC, Belarus); Goodness Onyebuchi (Edo Queens); Joy Bokiri (AIK FC, Sweden)
Forwards
Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain); Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Gift Monday (FC Robo Queens); Uchenna Kanu (Linkopings FC, Sweden); Desire Oparanozie (Dijon FC, France); Vivian Ikechukwu (Rivers Angels)
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
