The Super Falcons will be without top stars Osinachi Ohale, Christy Ucheibe and Halimatu Ayinde for tomorrow’s 2024 Paris Olympics qualifier in Ethiopia.
These players shone at this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where the Super Eagles reached the Round of 16.
However, Asisat Oshoala, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Rasheedat Ajibade, Michelle Alozie, Uchenna Kanu and Toni Payne will be available for selection.
Esther Onyenezide, who impressed at last year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals in Costa Rica as Nigeria reached the quarter-finals, has been drafted to replace Ayinde.
The delegation of home-based players and officials from Nigeria flew into Addis Ababa Sunday for tomorrow’s opening leg encounter at the Abebe Bekila Stadium, and the foreign-based players have started arriving for the big match as well.
The Super Falcons will host the second leg of the second-round fixture at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Tuesday, October 31, 2023.
The winners on aggregate will confront the winners of the fixture between Cameroon and Uganda.
The Indomitable Lionesses drew a bye, while Uganda overpowered Rwanda 4-3 on aggregate.
Ethiopia, nicknamed ‘Lucy’, turned back Chad 10-0 in the first round of the series, played in the month of July.
The Ethiopians won the first leg 6-0 in Addis Ababa on 13th July, before lashing their hosts 4-0 in N’Djamena five days later.
SUPER FALCONS TO BATTLE ETHIOPIA:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Monle Oyono (Bayelsa Queens
Defenders: Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Nicole Payne (Paris Saint Germain, France); Jumoke Alani (Edo Queens); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France)
Midfielders: Esther Onyenezide (FC Robo Queens); Peace Efih (Sporting Club de Braga, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain)
Forwards: Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona Feminine, Spain); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Opeyemi Ajakaye (FC Robo Queens)
