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Head coach Randy Waldrum has selected captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Osinachi Ohale, forward Asisat Oshoala and 14 other players in his final roster of Nigeria Super Falcons for this year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in France.
Also present are defenders Oluwatosin Demehin and Michelle Alozie, midfielders Deborah Abiodun, Halimatu Ayinde, Christy Ucheibe and Toni Payne, and forwards Esther Okoronkwo, Chinwendu Ihezuo and Uchenna Kanu.
Members of the squad currently on holiday in Nigeria will join local players and team officials aboard an Air France flight from Abuja to Seville, Spain on Thursday evening, while the rest of the playing staff and coaching staff will also arrive in Seville on Friday for a two-week training camp.
The team is scheduled to leave Seville for France on Thursday, July 18.
Nine-time African champions Nigeria, making their first appearance at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament since 2008 in China, will face Brazil, Spain and Japan, in that order, in this year’s tournament.
To qualify for the 12-team tournament, the Falcons beat Banyana Banyana of South Africa 1-0, with Ajibade’s penalty goal in Abuja separating Africa’s top two teams over two games in April.
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Spain’s first match, against Brazil, will be played at the Stade Bordeaux on 25 July, before facing Spain (28 July) and Japan (31 July). The matches against Spain and Japan will be played at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, where the Super Eagles defeated tournament favourites Spain 3-2 in a memorable match at the 1998 FIFA World Cup finals.
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Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia)
Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Football Club, 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)
Forward: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atlético de Madrid FC, Spain); Esther Okoronkwo (Changchun FC, China); Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC, United States); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Chiwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Football Club, Mexico); Chinonyerem Macleans (Moscow Locomotive, Russia)
Alternative players:Jumoke Alani (Nasarawa Amazon); Ifeoma Onumonu (Utah Royals, USA); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Morufa Ademola (Angels of the River)
