Oshoala, Nkwocha, Mbachu Named in Final Falcons Squad to AWC

Oshoala, Nkwocha, Mbachu Named in Final Falcons Squad to AWC

Tuesday, September 30, 2014 10:53 am


Adidas Golden Ball and Golden Boot winnee at the last FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada, Asisat Oshoala has been named in Nigeria’s final 21-woman squad to the 2014 African Women’s Championship in Namibia.

Oshoala has been rewarded by Super Falcons coach Edwin Okon with a place in the senior national team following her exploits in Canada where she scored seven goals as the Super Falconets finished runners-up for the second time in four years.

Also named in the squad are France-based striker Desire Oparanozie, FK Minsk duo Onome Ebi and Esther Sunday as well as veteran forwards Perpetua Nkwocha, Stella Mbachu and goalkeeper Precious Dede.

In all, Rivers Angels have the most players in the squad with 10 players while six players are foreign-based.

The AWC will hold from October 11 to 25 with the Super Falcons drawn in Group A alongside host nation Namibia as well as Zambia and Cote D’Ivoire; that beat defending champions Equatorial Guinea in the final qualifying round.

Nigeria will be out to win a record seventh title and put behind her worst AWC campaign, which saw the Falcons finish fourth in 2012 after losing to eventual champions Equatorial Guinea in the semi-final and Cameroun in the third place play-off.

Meanwhile the nations that make it to the semi-final stage will represent Africa at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup kicking off June 6 in Canada.

Nigeria’s AWC Squad
Goalkeepers
Precious Dede (Ibom Queens), Ibubeleye White (Rivers Angels), Christy Ohieriaku (Oshogbo Queens).

Defenders
Osinachi Ohale (Houston Dash, United States), Josephine Chukwunonye, Onome Ebi (FK Minsk, Belarus), Ngozi Ebere, Ugochi Njoku and Gloria Ofoegbu (all Rivers Angels)

Midfielders
Evelyn Nwabuoko, Onyinyechi Ohadugha, Gloria Iroka, Cecilia Nku (all Rivers Angels), Ayinde Halimat, Ngozi Okobi (both Delta Queens)

Strikers
Desire Oparanozie (En Avent Guingamp, France), Perpetua Nkwocha (Sunnanå SK, Sweden), Esther Sunday (FK Minsk, Belarus), Asisat Oshoala, Stella Mbachu (both Rivers Angels), Francisca Ordega (Pitea IFF, Sweden).


Join The Conversation

What do you think?

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.