Colombia 2024: Olise, Ajakaye, Kalu top Falconets’ 25-player squad for U20 Women’s World Cup qualifier vs Burundi

The Falconets are the most successful African nation at the World Cup, and they would target a chance to build on their legacy in the next edition

Ahead of Nigeria’s upcoming FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Burundi, head coach Christopher Musa Danjuma has invited 25 promising talents to camp this month, Soccernet.ng reports.

The roster has four goalkeepers including Anderlin Mgbechi of Delta Queens and Nasarawa Amazons’s Shukurat Bakare.

There are seven defenders prominent among whom are defenders Shukurat Oladipo of FC Robo Queens and Edo Queens centre-back Comfort Folorunsho.

Coach Danjuma aims to work with six midfielders including Aminat Folorunsho of Rivers Angels, Nasarawa Amazons’ Chinyere Kalu and Chioma Olise of Edo Queens, and eight forwards among whom are FC Robo Queens’ Opeyemi Ajakaye and Janet Akekoromowei of Asisat Academy.

Other notable additions to the lineup consist of FIFA U17 World Cup bronze-medalist Faith Omilana, defenders Jumoke Alani, midfielders Aminat Folorunsho, along with exciting attacker Oluwayemisi Samuel.

The selected players are set to commence training camp in the Federal Capital, Abuja on Wednesday, 27th December.

The Falconets advanced to this stage after Mauritius withdrew, securing their spot in the third round. In the second round, they triumphed over Tanzania with a 3-2 aggregate victory.

Burundi, having ousted the U20 teams from South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo, will host the first leg of the fixture in Bujumbura between 12th and 14th January.

The return leg is scheduled for Saturday, 20th January, at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

The winner of this clash will progress to the final round of the qualification series, with matches slated for March 2024.

The Falconets, who have qualified for every edition of the U20 Women’s World Cup, are the sixth most successful team in the history of the comeptition, having clinched two silver medals and finished in fourth place in 2012.

Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala is one of six players in history to have been named the winner of both the Golden Ball and Golden Boot at the U20 World Cup.

All 25 invited players:

Goalkeepers: Kehinde Afuye (FC Robo Queens); Faith Omilana (Naija Ratels); Anderlin Mgbechi (Delta Queens); Shukurat Bakare (Nasarawa Amazons)

Defenders: Jumoke Alani (Edo Queens); Oluwabunmi Semilore (Naija Ratels); Oluchi Ohaegbulam (Nasarawa Amazons); Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Emamuzo Edafe (Rivers Angels); Rebecca Adegbemile (Delta Queens)

Midfielders: Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens); Chinyere Kalu (Nasarawa Amazons); Aminat Folorunsho (Rivers Angels); Shukurat Shobowale (Nasarawa Amazons); Chioma Olise (Edo Queens); Adoo Yina (Nasarawa Amazons)

Forwards: Chiamaka Okwuchukwu (Rivers Angels); Aminat Bello (Unattached); Opeyemi Ajakaye (FC Robo Queens); Chiamaka Osuigwe (Edo Queens); Chisom Chima (Bayelsa Queens); Mary Nkpa (Heartland Queens); Janet Akekoromowei (Asisat Academy); Oluwayemisi Samuel (Bayelsa Queens).