Women’s Olympic football: Head coach unveil Falcons heading for France

Super Falcons Head Coach, Randy Waldrum, has picked captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, and goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, in his final team list for the Women’s Olympic football tournament in France.

The Head, Nigeria Football Federation Communications Department, Mr Ademola Olajire, said this in a statement on Wednesday.

The coach also listed defenders – Osinachi Ohale, Oluwatosin Demehin and Michelle Alozie –  in the squad.

Others on the list include midfielders: Deborah Abiodun, Halimatu Ayinde, Christy Ucheibe and Toni Payne.

Asisat Oshoala, Esther Okoronkwo, Chinwendu Ihezuo and Uchenna Kanu – all forwards – also made the final list.

According to Olajire, some squad members currently on holidays in Nigeria will join the home-based players and team officials aboard an Air France flight from Abuja to Sevilla, Spain on Thursday night.

He added that the rest of the playing body and technical team would also arrive in Sevilla on Friday, for a two-week training camp.

”The team is scheduled to depart Sevilla for France on Thursday, July 18.

”The nine-time African champions, Nigeria, who are making their first appearance at the Women’s Olympic football tournament for the first time since 2008 in China, will tackle Brazil, Spain and Japan, in that order, at this year’s tournament.

”To qualify for the 12-team tournament, the Falcons edged South Africa’s Banyana Banyana 1-0, with a strike from the penalty spot in Abuja by Ajibade, separating Africa’s top two teams, over two legs in the month of April.

”Their first game, against Brazil, comes up at the Stade Bordeaux on July 25, before confrontations with Spain on July 28 and Japan, on July 31,” he said.

According to him, the matches against Spain and Japan will hold at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, where the Super Eagles famously defeated tournament favourites Spain, 3-2 in a memorable game at the 1998 FIFA World Cup finals.

Other players on the list include Goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia) and Alternate players, Jumoke Alani (Nasarawa Amazons); Ifeoma Onumonu (Utah Royals, USA); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); and Morufa Ademola (Rivers Angels).

(NAN)