USA unveil 23-player squad for Nigeria friendlies in September

The four-time World champions and the nine-time African queens will lock horns next month in two warm-up games slated for two American cities

The United States women’s national team head coach Vlatko Andonovski has unveiled a roster of 23 players to prosecute the back-to-back international friendly matches with Nigeria in September.

The Falcons will head to the States next week, where they will first face the USWNT on Sept. 3 at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

The two teams will meet again three days later to trade tackles at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.

And coach Andonovski has called on three goalkeepers, six defenders, seven midfielders, and seven strikers to shoot down the Super Falcons.

Nigeria and the United States have qualified for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup – both teams have never missed an edition. The two continental giants will look to begin their build-up to the Mundial with the two friendlies.
 
United States head coach Vlatko Andonovski is clear about that point.

“All the players on the roster performed well in Mexico at qualifying and have carried that form for their clubs, so we’ll continue the process of growing as a team with this group in what will be two challenging games against Nigeria,” said Andonovski.

“Preparing for the World Cup is a long process, and I’ve been very happy with how our team understands that process, is willing to do the work and is making positive strides every camp to get us to where we want to be next summer.”

The Super Falcons have never beaten the United States, losing all six encounters with the four-time World Cup winners, conceding 17 goals while scoring twice.

The Nigerian ladies also relinquished their continental crown at Morocco 2022, with South Africa claiming their first-ever Women Africa Cup of Nation title.

The list of 23 players

GOALKEEPERS (3): Aubrey Kingsbury (Washington Spirit), Casey Murphy (North Carolina Courage), Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars)

DEFENDERS (6): Alana Cook (OL Reign), Emily Fox (Racing Louisville FC), Naomi Girma (San Diego Wave FC), Sofia Huerta (OL Reign), Kelley O’Hara (Washington Spirit), Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns FC)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Sam Coffey (Portland Thorns FC; 0/0); Lindsey Horan (Olympique Lyon, FRA), Taylor Kornieck (San Diego Wave FC), Rose Lavelle (OL Reign), Kristie Mewis (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Ashley Sanchez (Washington Spirit), Andi Sullivan (Washington Spirit)

FORWARDS (7): Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit), Alex Morgan (San Diego Wave FC), Mallory Pugh (Chicago Red Stars), Midge Purce (NJ/NY Gotham FC), Megan Rapinoe (OL Reign), Trinity Rodman (Washington Spirit), Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns FC)