Falconets’ Head Coach, Christopher Danjuma has selected 19 players for the national team’s Colombia 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier against Tanzania next Sunday.
The team comprises three goalkeepers, six defenders, five midfielders and five forwards, including goalkeeper Faith Omilana, who starred in Nigeria’s run to a first-ever FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup bronze medal-finish in India last year.
She is listed alongside fellow India 2022 star, Taiwo Afolabi, as well as defender Comfort Folorunsho and forward Opeyemi Ajakaye, who also played key roles in India and were part of the Super Falcons’ defeat of Ethiopia in a 2024 Women Olympic Football Tournament qualifying fixture last month.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup quarterfinalists have been training in Abuja for more than two weeks and will take on the Tanzanian girls at the Azam Sports Complex in Dar es Salaam from 3.00 p.m. Tanzania time (1.00 p.m. Nigeria time) on Sunday.
They will meet again in the decisive leg of the qualifier at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on November 19, with the winner on aggregate progressing to the third round of the race to Colombia next year.
According to thenff.com, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has picked Letticia Antonella Viana from e-Swatini as referee for the match, with her compatriots, Patricia Mkhaliph, Siphiwayikhosi Nxumalo and Nothando Nkhumane, as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively.
Kenya’s Margaret Omondi will serve as match commissioner.
For the return leg in Abuja, Rachel Nzigire from Democratic Republic of Congo will be referee, with Ngarassoum Victorine as assistant referee 1. Rachel’s compatriots, Carine Puazi and Carine Ampur, will be assistant referee 2 and fourth official respectively, with Christine Ziga from Ghana as match commissioner.
The full list of players invited for the game include goalkeepers: Anderline Mgbechi (Delta Queens); Shukura Bakare (Nasarawa Amazons); and Faith Omilana (Naija Ratels).
The defenders are Oluchi Ohaegbulem (Nasarawa Amazons); Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Rihanat Kasali (Bayelsa Queens); Jumoke Alani (Edo Queens); Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); and Semilore Oladeji (Naija Ratels), while the midfielders include Adoo Yina (Nasarawa Amazons); Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens); Shola Shobowale (Nasarawa Amazons); Aminat Folorunsho (Rivers Angels); and Chioma Olise (Edo Queens).
The attackers in the squad are Opeyemi Ajakaye (FC Robo Queens); Judith Okah (Remo Queens); Chiamaka Okwuchukwu (Rivers Angels); Chisom Chima (Bayelsa Queens); and Janet Akekoromowei (Asisat Academy).
