Colombia 2024: Coach Danjuma invites Omilana, Kalu, Adoo

..27 others for qualifier against Tanzania

National U-20 women football team’s Head Coach, Christopher Musa Danjuma, has invited goalkeepers Faith Omilana and Linda Jiwuaku for the Colombia 2024 U-20 Women World Cup qualifier against Tanzania.

Other players in the 30 listed by Danjuma are defenders Jumoke Alani and Tumininu Adeshina, midfielders Taiwo Afolabi, Chinyere Kalu and Chidera Okenwa, and forwards Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, Yina Adoo and Opeyemi Ajakaye.

According to thenff.com, following Mauritius’ withdrawal from their second-round tie with Nigeria, the 2022 World Cup quarterfinalists drew a bye to the third round, where they will meet Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on a date within November 10 to 12, with the return leg to hold in Abuja on a date within November 17 to 19.

Among the players in Danjuma’s list are a few of his World Cup quarterfinalists from Costa Rica last year, and an impressive number from the Flamingos squad that won the bronze medal at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India a year ago.

The invited players have been told to report at the Chida Hotel in Utako, Abuja on October 22.

FIFA has increased the number of finalists for next year’s U-20 Women’s World Cup tournament in Colombia to 24, from the 16 that participated in Costa Rica, and also increased the number of Africa’s flagbearers to four.

This means that after the Tanzania fixture, the Falconets will have one round to go to qualify for Colombia 2024.

The invited players are goalkeepers Linda Jiwuaku (Bayelsa Queens); Faith Omilana (Naija Ratels); Anderlin Mgbechi (Delta Queens); and Shukurat Bakare (Nasarawa Amazons). The defenders are Jumoke Alani (Edo Queens); Oluwabunmi Semilore (Naija Ratels); Oluchi Ohaegbunam (Nasarawa Amazons); Tumininu Adeshina (Naija Ratels); Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Monica Elejo (Nasarawa Amazons); and Alake Kasali (Bayelsa Queens).

The midfielders are Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens); Chinyere Kalu (Nasarawa Amazons); Vera Samuel (Delta Queens); Shukurat Sobowale (Nasarawa Amazons); Esther Inyang (Delta Queens); Aminat Folorunsho (Rivers Angels); Gloria Evans (FCT Academy); Chidera Okenwa (Delta Queens), while the forwards are Chiamaka Okwuchukwu (Rivers Angels); Chinasa Ogor (Delta Queens); Opeyemi Ajakaye (FC Robo Queens); Adaobi Okoh (Remo Queens); Chioma Olise (Edo Queens); Chisom China (Bayelsa Queens); Lydia Joshua (Heartland Queens); Delight Isaac (Dannz Ladies); Jenat Akekoromowei (Asisat Academy); and Yina Adoo (Nasarawa Amazons).