Paris 2024: Onyenezide replaces Ayinde in Olympic lineup

Posted : 24 October 2023

Midfielder Esther Onyenezide, who shone at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Costa Rica last year, helping Nigeria reach the quarterfinals, will step in for Halimatu Ayinde, a star of the 2023 FIFA World Cup, in Nigeria's squad for the 2024 Women's Olympic Football Tournament match against Ethiopia's senior national team.

The Nigerian delegation, consisting of home-based players, technical and support staff, arrived in Addis Ababa on Sunday for the opening leg of the fixture at the Abebe Bekila Stadium, with foreign-based players also making their way to the big match.

The second leg of the second-round fixture will be hosted by the Super Falcons at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja on October 31, 2023.

Midfielder Regina Otu, who missed the FIFA Women's World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand during the summer, and defender Osinachi Ohale of Pachuca FC in Mexico, will be absent from the fixture. Another World Cup star, Christy Ucheibe of the Portuguese club SL Benfica, will also miss the match.

The winner on aggregate will face the winner of the fixture between Cameroon and Uganda. The Indomitable Lionesses received a bye, while Uganda defeated Rwanda 4-3 on aggregate.

Ethiopia's senior women's team, known as Lucy, defeated Chad's senior women's national team 10-0 in the first round of the series in July. The Ethiopians won the first leg 6-0 in Addis Ababa on July 13, before securing a 4-0 victory in N'Djamena five days later.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Lamia Atman from Algeria as the referee for the match, with compatriots Asma Feriel Ouahab, Sara Kemmad, and Ghada Mehat serving as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2, and fourth official, respectively.

The Nigerian squad heading to Ethiopia includes goalkeepers Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC), Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia), and Monle Oyono (Bayelsa Queens).

The defensive lineup consists of 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), and Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France). In midfield, there's Esther Onyenezide (FC Robo Queens), Peace Efih (Sporting Club de Braga, Portugal), Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain), and Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain).

Among the forwards are 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), and Opeyemi Ajakaye (FC Robo Queens).

Paris 2024: Onyenezide replaces Ayinde in Olympic lineup

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