Experienced defender Ashleigh Plumptre and centre forward Ifeoma Onumonu are two prominent names missing in Super Falcons roster for this month’s Olympics Women’s Football event, www.aclsports.com reports.
Plumptre and Onumonu are two players that have featured constantly in Waldrum’s selections in the past four years but there is no place for them in the final eighteen for the tournament with the latter having to make do with a spot among the alternate players.
Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade who had a stellar season with Spanish side Atletico Madrid will be joined by reigning African Women’s Footballer of the year Asisat Oshoala and Juventus star Jennifer Echegini as Nigeria make a return to Olympics Women’s Football for the first time in sixteen years.
Waldrum has selected goalkeepers Chiamaka Nnadozie and Tochukwu Oluehi while defender Chidinma Okeke who only returned to the team this year after years of absence also made the cut.
According to the Nigeria Football Federation, the Super Falcons squad will leave Nigeria on Thursday for Spain where they will have a two-week camping for the competition where they have been pit with football powerhouses Spain, Brazil and Japan.
Falcons’ first game, against Brazil, comes up at the Stade Bordeaux on 25th July, before confrontations with Spain (28th July) and Japan (31st July). 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.
SUPER FALCONS OLYMPICS SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia)
Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Nicole Payne (Portland Thorns FC, USA); Chidinma Okeke (Mynavi Sendai Ladies, Japan)
Midfielders: Deborah Abiodun (University of Pittsburgh, USA); Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosengard, Sweden); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Jennifer Echegini (Juventus Ladies, Italy); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain)
Forwards: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Esther Okoronkwo (Changchun FC, China); Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC, USA); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA);Chiwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Chinonyerem Macleans (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia)
Alternate Players: Jumoke Alani (Nasarawa Amazons); Ifeoma Onumonu (Utah Royals, USA); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Morufa Ademola (Rivers Angels)
