Int’l.Friendly: Madugu to unleash ‘New Face’ Super Falcons on Algeria’s Les Fennecs

***As teams hit Ikenne tomorrow

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

All is set for the double-header high profile international friendly matches between Nigeria and Algeria as the Super Falcons interim manager Justin Madugu has concluded plans to parade mostly domestic league players with a sprinkle of six over-seas professionals in tomorrow’s first game holding at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun state, Prompt News can reveal.

This is even as the two national teams will travel to Ikenne on Saturday morning with security escorts for the evening match and have been scheduled to return to Lagos shortly after the match in preparations for the second game billed for Tuesday,  October 29, 2024.

Checks at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos camps of Super Falcons and Les Fennecs revealed that both teams are gearing up for the international friendlies just as they will have their final training sessions at Legacy Pitch at the iconic National Stadium, Surulere with the Algerians training from 4 pm to 5 pm while Nigeria will train from 5 pm to 6 pm respectively.

Meanwhile, Prompt News can reveal that Madugu will give many Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) players the rare opportunities they have not got in the last four years to showcase their talents with the two international friendlies and probably stake claims to the positions they are placed.

For this singular reason, the experienced gaffer who will opt to play a 4-4-2 formation in the first match will start five home-based players and bring in more in the course of the match with the foreign-based usual suspects, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France) and defenders Chidinma Okeke (Club America, Mexico) and Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive FC, Turkey) maintaining their places in the new set up.

Others to start are team captain Rasheedat Ajibade of Atletico Madrid, Spain; midfielder Esther Onyenezide of Hapoel Katamon, Israel and attacker Gift Monday of UDG Tenerife, Spain who did not get enough playing time despite being invited several times by the immediate past Super Falcons coach Randy Waldrum.

The five places in the starting XI will be contested by the 19 invited home-based players except the goalkeeping position which is not contestable as long as Nnadozie is fit while the two defenders to pair Okeke and Demehin will be fought for by Miracle Usani (Edo Queens); Florence Alexander (Bayelsa Queens); Blessing Ilivieda (Edo Queens); Sikiratu Isa (Nasarawa Amazons); Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Tessy Ojiyovwi (Nasarawa Amazons) and Chidinma Ogbuchi (FC Robo Queens).

In the midfield where Ajibade and Onyenezide will operate in the advanced position, holding midfielders will be selected from the likes of Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); Chioma Olise (Edo Queens); Josephine Matthias (Nasarawa Amazons) and Amarachi Odoma (Edo Queens).

With Gift Monday the only established striker invited from abroad, it means her twin striker will be picked from Goodness Osigwe (Edo Queens); Janet Akekoromowei (Nasarawa Amazons); Delight Nwosu (Bayelsa Queens); Folashade Ijamilusi (Edo Queens); Mercy Omokwo (Bayelsa Queens) and Olamide Bolaji (Remo Stars Ladies).

In all, Madugu and his assistants Ann Agumanu-Chiejine and Auwal Makwalla are spoilt for choices and will not only strive to grind out victories in both matches in Ikenne and Lagos but will use the opportunities to try out as many players as possible because both countries may agree to make up to 11 changes in 90 minutes.

If that happens, Madugu will be the happier one in oder to give the first set of 19 homers he invited for the Algeria friendlies the benefit of doubt by giving them minutes in real match situations to see what each can offer to compare with the old faces Nigerians are used to in the last four years.

Let the matches begin and let the ‘New Face of Super Falcons’ begin to emerge. Nigeria and Nigerians will be happier for it.

SUPER FALCONS IN LAGOS CAMP-

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Monle Oyono (Edo Queens); Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons).

Defenders: Chidinma Okeke (Club America, Mexico); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive FC, Turkey); Miracle Usani (Edo Queens); Florence Alexander (Bayelsa Queens); Blessing Ilivieda (Edo Queens); Sikiratu Isa (Nasarawa Amazons); Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Tessy Ojiyovwi (Nasarawa Amazons); Chidinma Ogbuchi (FC Robo Queens).

Midfielders: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Esther Onyenezide (Hapoel Katamon, Israel); Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); Chioma Olise (Edo Queens); Josephine Matthias (Nasarawa Amazons); Amarachi Odoma (Edo Queens).

Forwards: Gift Monday (UDG Tenerife, Spain); Goodness Osigwe (Edo Queens); Janet Akekoromowei (Nasarawa Amazons); Delight Nwosu (Bayelsa Queens); Folashade Ijamilusi (Edo Queens); Mercy Omokwo (Bayelsa Queens); Olamide Bolaji (Remo Stars Ladies).