The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has released a 26-woman list for the Super Falcons matches in September, and there’s a surprising name on the list
Leicester City Women defender Ashleigh Plumptre has been named in Nigeria’s Super Falcons squad for their matches in September.
The eleven-time African will take part alongside Morocco, Ghana, South Africa, Cameroon and Mali in the Aisha Buhari Invitational Women’s Football Tourney, which will be hosted by Lagos State.
Super Falcons coach Randy Wladrum has now named his 26-woman squad for the tourney, with Plumptre the surprising name on the list.
The 23-years-old, who plays for Women Super League side Leicester City, has played for England at youth level, but she is eligible to play for the Super Falcons through her father’s Nigerian heritage.
Plumptre was born in England and could even be mistaken to be a caucasian. However, she has always been proud of her Nigerian heritage, saying she would jump at the chance to represent the country, and King Sunny Ade is one of her favourite Nigerian musicians.
The Foxes star has never visited the country before, but she will get the chance to make her debut in front of the home fans in Lagos.
Meanwhile, Desire Oparnanozie is also back in the squad after two years. The France-based star hasn’t played for Nigeria since the 2019 Women’s World Cup.
However, there’s no Asisat Oshoala in the squad after she excused herself for personal reasons.
The squad will have an eight-day training camp in Austria ahead of the tournament. The Aisha Buhari Invitational Tourney is the third competition the Super Falcons will be playing this year after the Turkish Women’s Cup and US Summer Series.
Super Falcons squad
Goalkeepers: Tochukwu Oluehi; Chiamaka
Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Patience Okeke (Bayelsa Queens); Yewande
Balogun (California Storm, USA)
Defenders: Glory Ogbonna (Edo Queens); Osinachi Ohale (Madrid CFF,
Spain); Esther Ogbonna (Edo Queens); Chidinma Okeke (Madrid CFF,
Spain); Onyinyechi Zogg (FC Zurich, Switzerland); Nicole Payne (West
Virginia University, USA); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash Reserves,
USA); Megan Ashleigh (Leicester City, England); Josephine Ijeh (BK
Hacken, Sweden)
Midfielders: Rita Chikwelu (Madrid CFF, Spain); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene
(Eskilstuna United, Sweden); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain);
Mowaninuola Dada (Watford FC, England)
Forwards: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Francisca Ordega
(Levante UD, Spain); Gift Monday (FC Robo Queens); Joy Bokiri (Bayelsa
Queens); Uchenna Kanu (Linkopings FC, Sweden); Ebere Orji (Sundsvall
DFF, Sweden); Ini-Abasi Umotong (Lewes FC, England); Evelyn Ijeh (BK
Hacken, Sweden); Desire Oparanozie (FC Dijon, France)
This post was last modified on July 16, 2021 8:06 pm
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Where is Asisat Oshoala?
What is going on with Oshoala Asisat?
Why is oshola missing in the list
Please, where is Asisat Oshoala?
This is Biafra Republic national team
Nne what kind of talk is that nau? The yorubas, Efik and Edo and the British-Nigerian players are also "Biafrans"?
This is how we get the other tribes hating on us.
Allen, you're damned funny
I agree with you chiamaka. Definitely this is not Nigerian national team.
Everything has now become political in Nigeria.
#ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE
Why is Asisat Oshoala missing on the list pls?
I guess she's resting.. She's a queen amongst queens.. Let her take some rest...
Who tribe help. Football has only one language. #teamwork.
Why is the Queen (Asisat) missing from the list?
Did you read the reportage at all?
Asisat's name is compicously missing!