EXCLUSIVE: At last, Super Falcons camp opens on Sunday

**As South Africa intensify preparations in Pretoria

By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No.1 Women Football Journalist

At last, Nigeria’s senior women’s football team, Super Falcons will on Sunday start close camping for the crucial  Paris Olympics Women’s Football Tournament CAF qualifiers final round first leg tie against South Africa Banyana Banyana billed for Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Friday, April 5, 2024 with the return leg match slated for Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on April 9, 2024.

Prompt News has exclusively gathered that the 22 invited players have been directed by Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to report to their usual Abuja camp on Easter Sunday, for a few days training before the cracker against Banyana Banyana next Friday.

Recall the authoritative newspapers had last week reported the quietness in Super Falcons camp at a time Banyana Banyana started their preparations for the Paris Olympics double-header final qualifiers between the two African heavyweights in women’s football.

Led by three-time CAF Best Women’s Coach of the Year Award Winner, Desiree Ellis, the reigning African champions, South Africa started her close camping on Monday in Pretoria, political capital of the former Apartheid enclave.

But few days after the report on the level of preparationsby the two teams, Super Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum from his United States base released the list of 22 players invited to prosecute the two matches and now the players are to report to Abuja on Sunday.

List Of 22 Invited Players:

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

Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachuca Club de Futbol, Mexico); Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies, Saudi Arabia); Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); 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); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain)

Forwards: Omorinsola Babajide (UDG Tenerife, Spain); Esther Okoronkwo (Changchun FC, China); Ifeoma Onumonu (SLC Utah, USA); Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC, USA); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Gift Monday (UDG Tenerife, Spain); Chiwendu Ihezuo (Pachuca Club de Futbol, Mexico).