Super Falcons' coach, Waldrum ends Onome Ebi's Olympics dream

Posted : 04 July 2024

Head Coach Randy Waldrum has selected captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Osinachi Ohale, forward Asisat Oshoala, and 14 other players for Nigeria’s Super Falcons in this year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in France.

Also included 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.

Squad members currently on holiday in Nigeria will join home-based players and team officials on an Air France flight from Abuja to Sevilla, Spain, on Thursday night. The remainder of the team and technical staff will arrive in Sevilla on Friday for a two-week training camp.

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

Nine-time African champions Nigeria are making their first appearance at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament since 2008 in China. They will face Brazil, Spain, and Japan in that order during this year’s tournament.

To qualify for the 12-team tournament, the Falcons defeated South Africa’s Banyana Banyana 1-0 with a penalty from Ajibade in Abuja in April.

Their first match against Brazil will take place at Stade Bordeaux on July 25th, followed by matches against Spain on July 28th and Japan on July 31st at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, where the Super Eagles famously defeated Spain 3-2 in a memorable game at the 1998 FIFA World Cup finals.

Full list of Super Falcons for the Paris 2024 Olympics:

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia)

Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachuca 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 (Pachuca 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)

However, hopes of former captain Onome Ebi to participate in the Olympics have been dashed as she was not invited by the coach.

Ebi has been in the news regarding her attempted inclusion in the Olympic team and has sought to sway media opinion with an exclusive interview explaining why she deserved a call-up despite her age.

Super Falcons' coach, Waldrum ends Onome Ebi's Olympics dream

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