Super Falcons Head Coach, Justine Madugu, on Friday, picked a strong 24-player squad for Nigeria’s campaign at the 13th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), scheduled to take place from July 5th to 26th in Morocco.

Leading the charge is team captain Rasheedat Ajibade, alongside key players including top-rated goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, experienced forward Francisca Ordega, and five-time CAF Women’s Player of the Year, Asisat Oshoala.

A healthy percentage of the squad began training sessions in the Federal Capital, Abuja, on Thursday and will also train on Friday and Saturday, before departing for the final training camp in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sunday morning.

Madugu has also selected Saudi Arabia-based flamboyant defender Ashleigh Plumptre, US-based fan favourite Michelle Alozie, veteran defender Osinachi Ohale, and midfielders Deborah Abiodun, Jennifer Echegini, and Christy Ucheibe.

Home-based goalkeeper Rachael Unachukwu and defenders Sikiratu Isah and Miracle Usani also make the cut, while midfield lynchpin Halimatu Ayinde makes a return to the fold.

Already, the Nigeria Football Federation has sealed friendly matches for the team with the senior women’s national teams of Portugal and Ghana, to put them in a competitive mood ahead of their group B encounters against Tunisia, Botswana and Algeria at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca. The Falcons will face their Portuguese counterparts in Lisbon on Monday, 23rd June, and then take on the Black Queens of Ghana in Morocco on Sunday, 29th June.

Nigeria’s Final 24-Player Squad for WAFCON 2024: Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (just finished contract with Paris FC, France); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons)

Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma, Italy); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies FC, Saudi Arabia); Sikiratu Isah (Nasarawa Amazons); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive, Turkey); Miracle Usani (Edo Queens)

Midfielders: Rasheedat Ajibade (just finished contract with Atletico Madrid, Spain); Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosenburg, Sweden); Deborah Abiodun (Dallas Trinity, USA); Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint Germain, France); Toni Payne (Everton Ladies, England); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal)

Forwards: Francisca Ordega (Ittihad Ladies Club, Saudi Arabia); Chinwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Ifeoma Onumonu (Montpellier FC, France); Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto, Canada); Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Folashade Ijamilusi (Liaoning Shenyang Shenbei Hefeng, China); Chioma Okafor (University of Connecticut, USA)