2024 WAFCON Qualifier: Coach Madugu Calls for Replacement Over Oshoala, Echegini Late Withdrawal
Coach Justin Madugu has been compelled to pick replacements for striker Asisat Oshoala and midfielder Jennifer Echegini after the duo suddenly withdrew from the Super Falcons’ squad for the 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying match against Cape Verde in Abuja.
According to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF’s assistant director (technical), Abdulrafiu Yusuf, said they were taken aback by the announcements of the two players
on Saturday that they would be unable to join the squad after their flight tickets to travel to Nigeria had been sent to them a whole week before.
The coach has, however, picked Rivers Angels’ Chiamaka Chukwu as a replacement for Oshoala, and Chioma Olise as Echegini’s replacement.
Yusuf said, “We were surprised that they had the flight tickets for so long and did not say anything, only for them to send different messages on Saturday that they would be unable to make the trip. However, Coach Madugu has moved swiftly to call up replacements for them,”
The Super Falconets, Halimat Ayinde, Ifeoma Onumonu, Christy Ucheibe, and Michelle Alozie will not also feature for the qualifiers due to injuries.
The Super Falcons will host the first leg of the fixture against their counterparts from Cape Verde at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, on Thursday, November 30.
The second leg is scheduled for the Santiago-Estadio Nacional Blue Shark in Praia on Tuesday, December 5.
The new invited players are:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Christiana Obia (Edo Queens)
Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachuca FC, Mexico); Glory Edet (FCF TP Mazembe, DR Congo); Rihanat Kasali (Bayelsa Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Akudo Ogbonna (Remo Stars Ladies); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France)
Midfielders: Motunrayo Ezekiel (Rivers Angels); Esther Onyenezide (FC Robo Queens); Peace Efih (Sporting Club de Braga, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Deborah Abiodun (University of Pittsburgh, USA); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Chioma Olise (Edo Queens)
Forwards: Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Chiamaka Chukwu (Rivers Angels); Esther Okoronkwo (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain)
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