Ajibade, Nnadozie, Oshoala, 15 others in
For the first time in over a decade, the Super Falcons will be heading to a major tournament without the duo of Francisca Ordega and Onome Ebi.
On the list of players for the Paris 2024 Olympics released yesterday by Super Falcons’ Head Coach, Randy Waldrum, the duo’s names were conspicuously missing, although the American stuck to most of the players that featured at the Australia/New Zealand 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Top in the final list of players for the Games are Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Osinachi Ohale and forward Asisat Oshoala.
There are also 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.
According to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the team would depart Nigeria for Sevilla, Spain today aboard an Air France flight with home-based players, team officials and squad members, who are currently on holidays in Nigeria.
It added that the rest of the players and technical team would join them in Sevilla tomorrow for a two-week training camp.The team is scheduled to depart Sevilla for France on July 18.
Nine-time African champions Nigeria, who are making their first appearance at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament for the first time since 2008 in China, will tackle Brazil, Spain, and Japan, in that order, at this year’s tournament.
Ebi started playing for the Super Falcons in 2003, while Ordega became a regular in the team in 2011. Rumors surfaced on Monday suggesting that the American coach was unhappy about a player being imposed on him.
Ebi, however, responded to these allegations on her social media. She stated: “Randy said I was begging him to include me in the Olympic team. He should come and say it in front of me.”
Ebi compared her situation to that of Brazilian football legend Marta, who is set to participate in the Olympics as an honour for her contributions, noting that Marta would only play in a few games as a tribute to her career.
“Marta going to the Olympics is to honour her. She will only appear in a few games. That is how to honour people, who want to leave the national team,” Ebi explained.
