Home-Based Stars Seize Their Chance As Eguavoen Names Falcons Squad For Comoros Olympics Qualifiers
By Saheed Afolabi
Nigeria’s domestic league players have been handed a golden opportunity by national women’s football team interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen in the 28-player Super squad for next month’s Los Angeles 2028 Olympics qualifying ties against Comoros in Ikenne.
Regulars, such as captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, Asisat Oshoala and other abroad based stars with a strong contingent of home-based talents has earned call-ups to the Falcons.
Goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma of Edo Queens is among those selected, alongside defenders Farida Abdulwahab (Nasarawa Amazons), Glory Edet (Bayelsa Queens) and Tumininu Adeshina (also Edo Queens).
In midfield, Joy Igbokwe and Fatimoh Solaty of Nasarawa Amazons as well as Favour Nkwocha of FC Robo Queens have been named. Forward Oluwakemi Adegbuyi of Edo Queens completes the group of local-league players in the squad.
These youngsters and established domestic performers form a key part of the mix alongside more experienced overseas-based colleagues such as Michelle Alozie, Oluwatosin Demehin, Christy Ucheibe, Jennifer Echegini, Toni Payne, Ashley Plumptre, Shukurat Oladipo, Gift Monday, Joy Omewa and Uchenna Kanu.
All players have been instructed to report at the AM2PM Hotel in Ijebu-Ode on Saturday, October 3. Comoros will host the first leg of the second-round fixture on Friday, 9 October, with Nigeria hosting the return leg on Tuesday, 13 October.
Both matches will take place at the Remo Stars Sports Stadium in Ikenne as Comoros lacks a CAF-approved venue for international games.
An aggregate victory would propel the Super Falcons into a third-round clash in the five-match qualifying campaign that runs until December next year.
28 Super Falcons for Olympics Qualifying Fixture vs Comoros
**Goalkeepers:** Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Comfort Erhabor (Portsmouth Ladies, England); Christiana Uzoma (Edo Queens)
Defenders: Michelle Alozie (Chicago Stars, USA); Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma, Italy); Farida Abdulwahab (Nasarawa Amazons); Glory Ogbonna (Besiktas JK, Turkey); Oluwatosin Demehin (SL Benfica, Portugal); Glory Edet (Bayelsa Queens); Ashley Plumptre (Al-Ittihad Ladies, Saudi Arabia); Tumininu Adeshina (Edo Queens)
Midfielders: Christy Ucheibe (Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia); Joy Igbokwe (Nasarawa Amazons); Favour Nkwocha (FC Robo Queens); Fatimoh Solaty (Nasarawa Amazons); Suliat Abideen (Fenerbahce Ladies, Turkey); Toni Payne (Inter Milan, Italy); Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint-Germain, France)
Forwards: Rasheedat Ajibade (Paris Saint-Germain, France); Asisat Oshoala (Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia); Flourish Sabastine (SL Benfica, Portugal); Shakirat Moshood (SCU Torreense, Portugal); Gift Monday (Washington Spirit, USA); Joy Omewa (BK Häcken, Sweden); Blessing Nkor (Dynamo Brest, Belarus); Oluwakemi Adegbuyi (Edo Queens); Janet Akekoromowei (SL Benfica, Portugal); Uchenna Kanu (Cruz Azul Femenil, Mexico)
