10 breakout stars for the Super Falcons at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup

She is the current holder of the CAF Women’s Player of the Year award and has won it a record six times.

CHIAMAKA NNADOZIE

Chiamaka Nnadozie, currently the starting goalkeeper for French club Paris FC, played in all four matches played by the Falconets at the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

She put in an impressive performance for the Falconets in their 1-0 win over Haiti in their second group game, earning her the Player of the Match award.

From the Falconets, she moved to the Super Falcons and was part of the team that won the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, where she was second choice.

She was included in the Super Falcons’ squad for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France and was in goal in the 2-0 group stage win over South Korea.

Her goalkeeping exploits against South Korea meant that, at 19, she became the youngest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet at the World Cup.

He played a key role in the Falcons’ qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic football event, which was the team’s first appearance at the Games since Beijing 2008.

On 22 January 2020, he signed for Paris FC on an 18-month contract and later extended his contract and cemented his place as the club’s first-choice.

For her outstanding performances for both club and country, she was crowned African Goalkeeper of the Year in 2023.

Rasheedat Ajibade

Rasheedat Ajibade was a member of the Falconets squads at the 2016 and 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cups.

In the 2018 tournament, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 win against Haiti as the Falconets advanced to the quarter-finals.

She was selected by former Falcons coach Thomas Dennerby for the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, which the team won.

She represented Nigeria at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and also at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

She currently plays for Atlético de Madrid and helped the team win the Spanish Women’s Cup and the Super Cup.

HALIMATU AYINDE

Like Oshoala, Halimatu Ayinde rose to fame thanks to her impressive performance for the Falconets at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, where the team reached the final.

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She then helped the Falcons win the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations and also participated in three World Cups in 2015, 2019 and 2023.

Unfortunately, Ayinde was unable to be part of the Falcons’ squad for the Paris 2024 Olympics due to injury.

The 29-year-old now plays for Swedish first division club FC Rosengård.

I WISH TO OPARANOZIE

Now retired from professional football, Desire Oparanozie participated in two FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cups in 2010 and 2012.

Oparanozie scored twice as the Falconets became the first and so far only African team to reach the final of the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The team lost 2-0 to host country Germany in the final.

She is a proud winner of four Africa Women’s Cup of Nations titles (2010, 2014, 2016, 2018) with the Falcons. She scored the only goal in a 1-0 win against hosts Cameroon in the 2018 final.

In addition, she has had the privilege of participating in four FIFA Women’s World Cups in 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023.

After playing for local clubs such as Bayelsa Queens and Delta Queens, Oparanozie played for foreign clubs such as Guingamp, Dijon and Wolfsburg.

She announced her retirement from professional football after the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Deborah Abiodun

The diminutive midfielder was one of the revelations of the Falconets squad at the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica. Despite the team’s quarter-final exit at the hands of the Netherlands, Abiodun had done enough to earn a call-up to the Super Falcons squad from head coach Randy Waldrum.

She was included in the starting lineup for the Falcons’ opening game against Canada, which ended scoreless.

Unfortunately, Abiodun received a straight red card and missed the rest of the tournament as the Falcons reached the round of 16.

He made his second senior appearance in a major tournament with the Falcons when they qualified for the Paris Olympics, where the team was eliminated in the group stage.

Abiodun received a full scholarship offer from the University of Pittsburgh women’s soccer team in the United States and has been with the team since 2023.

She was included in the shortlist for the 2023 CAF Young Player of the Year award but lost out.

DEMEHIN COUGH

Tosin Demehin was also a member of the Falconets squad that participated in the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

The 22-year-old was a standout defensive player for the Falconets, who reached the quarter-finals of the tournament.

Following her impressive performance at the U-20 World Cup, Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum included Demehin in his squad for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, where she played in every match.

In addition to the senior World Cup, Demehin also participated in the Paris Olympics, partnering Osinachi Ohale in defence.

Following his impressive performance at the 2022 U-20 World Cup, Demehin joined French club Reims.

ONGZI OKOBI

After participating in the 2008 and 2010 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cups with the Flamingos, Ngozi Okobi moved to the Falconets and was part of the team that finished fourth at the 2012 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Japan.

She was part of the Super Falcons team that won the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2018.

She also represented Nigeria at two FIFA Women’s World Cups in 2015 and 2019.

Okobi, who currently plays for Spanish club Levante Las Planas, was named to the IFFHS CAF Women’s Team of the Decade 2011-2020.

FRANCISCA ORDEGA

Francisca Ordega was part of the Falconets squad that reached the semi-finals of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Japan.

Prior to the 2012 U-20 World Cup, Ordega was a member of the Super Falcons’ squad for the 2011 FIFA Women’s Senior World Cup in Germany.

He was also part of the national teams that competed in the 2015, 2019 and 2023 World Cups.

Before appearing at the 2012 U-20 World Cup, she had already won the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in 2010 and also won the trophy in 2014, 2016 and 2018.

Ordega is currently with the women’s team of Russian club CSKA Moscow, which she joined from Levante in 2021.

JONATHAN ALABA

Alaba Jonathan was in goal when the Falconets reached the final of the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany.

It was the first time an African team would play in the final of a major FIFA women’s tournament, a feat the Falconets repeated in 2014 in Canada.

Alaba went on to play for the Super Falcons and was in goal when the team won the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Cameroon in 2016.

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