AWCON Qualifier: 25 Falcons in camp ahead of Côte d’Ivoire clash

Super Falcons of Nigeria have reported in camp as the team prepares for the final stage qualification of the 14th Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON), against the Lady Elephants of Ivory Coast.

The nine-time African women’s champions would seek to edge past the Lady Elephants of Ivory Coast, for a ticket to her 12th successive AWCON in Morocco later this year.

The Africa’s most successful women’s football team would slug it out – against the team that costed them an Olympic appearance at the Tokyo 2020 – on Friday, 18th February at the newly refurbished MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, with the second leg scheduled for Wednesday, February 23 at the Stade Robert Champroux, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

While the Coach Randy Waldrum-led Super Falcons defeated Ghana Black Queens 2-1 to hit the final phase of the qualifier, the Lady Elephants walloped their counterparts from Niger Republic 20-0, including 9-0 in the first leg and 11-0 in the return leg.

According to the Team’s media officer, Oluchi Tobe-Chukwu, thirty players were in camp including team’s captain Asisat Oshoala and new addition Ashleigh Plumptre of Leicester City.

The thirty-woman team has now been trim down to twenty-five (25) carefully selected squad, with Christy Ohiaeriaku, Miracle Joseph, Joy Duru, Ayomide Ojo and Juliet Bassey excused from the team.

The 25-Falcons in camp:

Goalkeepers:
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France)
Tochukwu Oluehi (Maccabi Kishronot Hadera, Israel)
Yewande Balogun (USA)

Defenders:
Rofiat Imuran (Rivers Angels)
Onome Ebi (Minsk FC, Belarus)
Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City, England)
Nicole Payne (West Virginia University, USA)
Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA)
Akudo Ogbonna (Edo Queens)
Tosin Dimehin (Rivers Angels)

Midfielders:
Peace Efih (Kiryat Gat, Israel)
Yetunde Aluko (WFC Ramat Hasharon, Israel)
Amanda Mbadinuju (Bayelsa Queens)
Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (Eskilstuna FC, Sweden)
Grace Igboamalu (Bayelsa Queens)
Toni Oyedupe Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain)
Regina Otu (Minsk FC, Belarus)
Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain)
Rita Chikwelu (Madrid CFF, Spain)
Amarachi Okoronkwo (Nasarawa Amazons)

Forwards:
Esther Okoronkwo (AS Saint Etienne, France)
Vivian Ikechukwu (Rivers Angels)
Gift Monday (FC Robo Queens)
Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA)
Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain)