Head coach of Nigeria’s Women’s football national team Randy Waldrum has released the 23-woman list for the FIFA Women’s World Cup billed for Australia and New Zealand between the 20th of July and the 20th of August 2023. The Super Falcons list was released on Friday on the official Twitter page of the Nigeria Football Federation.
The list comprises a handful of foreign professionals and a few players who play in the top-tier league of Nigeria’s women’s football. The likes of Asissat Oshoalal who recently won the UEFA Women’s Champions League, Desire Oparanozie, Francesca Ordega, Halimatu Ayinde, and team captain, Onome Ebi are some of the notable names on the Super Falcons list.
Notable absentees from the team are Levante’s Ngozi Okobi and Rita Chikwelu who were part of the Super Falcons team that crashed out of the second round of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
See full list of 23-woman list below;
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Tochukwu Oluehi (Hakkarigucu Spor FC, Turkey); Yewande Balogun (AS Saint-Etienne, France)
Defenders: Onome Ebi (Abia Angels); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Glory Ogbonna (Besiktas JK, Turkey); Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City, England); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France)
Midfielders: Halimatu Ayinde (Rosengard FC, Sweden); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Deborah Abiodun (Rivers Angels); Jennifer Echegini (Florida State University, USA)
Forwards: Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, Kentucky, USA); Gift Monday (UDG Tenerife, Spain); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona Feminine, Spain); Desire Oparanozie (Wuhan Chegu Jianghan, China); Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Esther Okoronkwo (AS Saint-Etienne, France)
The Super Falcons are grouped alongside one of the co-hosts Australia, Canada, and debutants Republic of Ireland. The former African champions will play Canada first on July 20 at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, then Australia in their second match seven days later at Lang Park before playing Ireland on the 31st of July at Lang Park as well.
