Oshoala, Alozie missing; Monday, Ajibade lead Magudu’s squad of home-based Super Falcons players for Algeria friendly

Super Falcons interim head coach Justine Madugu has unveiled his 25-player squad for two upcoming international friendly matches against Algeria in Lagos, Soccernet.ng reports.

Notably absent from the list are Bay FC striker Asisat Oshoala and Houston Dash defender Michelle Alozie, who both missed out on the call-up.

However, Spain-based forward Gift Monday and captain Rasheedat Ajibade headline the team, which includes several home-based players and a few promising youngsters.

The matches, scheduled to take place at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena on Saturday, 26th October, and Tuesday, 29th October, will be the first time the Super Falcons play an international friendly on home soil since the Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament in 2021. The Falcons’ last home outing before that was in 2014, when they faced Cameroon in Abuja.

Madugu’s selection also features a strong mix of local talents, such as Comfort Folorunsho of Edo Queens and Falconets stars from the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia.

The inclusion of homegrown players alongside European-based professionals like Ajibade and Chiamaka Nnadozie of Paris FC builds a balanced squad.

The Algerian national team is set to arrive in Lagos on Wednesday for the two fixtures, which have been sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). FIFA match officials from Benin Republic will oversee both encounters.

This double-header is a chance for the home-based Super Falcons to prove their worth on the international stage alongside Ajibade and Monday expected to lead the charge in the absence of seasoned stars like Oshoala and Alozie.