The Super Falcons of Nigeria have arrived in Kansas City, the United States of America ahead of their friendly matches against the world champions, whose head coach, Vlatko Andonovski, has welcomed the visitors with open arms.
The nine-time African champions will play two matches against the United States Women’s National Team, the first one scheduled for the Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City on Saturday.
The second game of the mini-tour is set for next Tuesday at the Audi Field in Washington, DC as both teams prepare for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
USWNT head coach Andonovski has expressed excitement at the prospect of testing his side against the Super Falcons again.
“First, I’m just excited to play two matches against Nigeria,” he said. “They have some very talented players who will present a lot of different problems for us to solve on both sides of the ball.”
Super Falcons’ American head coach Randy Waldrum included in the Falcons’ squad four members of the Falconets side that reached the quarter-finals of the just-concluded FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica, namely Oluwatosin Demehin, Rofiat Imuran, Esther Onyenezide and Deborah Abiodun.
Home-based players Christy Ohiaeriaku, Akudo Ogbonna and Gift Monday, who was in the Super Falcons squad to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, are also in the team to the USA.
First-choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Osinachi Ohale, midfielder Toni Payne and forwards Rasheedat Ajibade and Uchenna Kanu, all of whom featured at WAFCON where Nigeria finished a disappointing fourth, are also part of the squad.
The USWNT is the most successful team in FIFA Women’s World Cup history, having won four of the eight titles competed for so far.
They won the first edition of the tournament in China in 1991, and then reclaimed it on home soil in 1999, and were successful again in Canada in 2015 and in France three years ago.
The team have also won four Olympic women’s football gold medals and eight CONCACAF titles.
On their part, the Super Falcons have won the WAFCON title nine times out of the 12 tournaments staged so far, played in every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and also featured at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympic women’s football tournament. They remain the most successful women’s team on the African continent.
The last time both teams met in a friendly, in June 2021, the USWNT defeated the Super Falcons 2-0 at the Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, with Christen Press and Lynn Williams scoring the goals.
SUPER FALCONS SQUAD FOR FRIENDLIES WITH USA:
Goalkeepers:
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Christy Ohiaeriaku (Edo Queens)
Defenders:
Nicole Payne (West Virginia University, USA); Glory Ogbonna (ALG Spor, Turkey); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Akudo Ogbonna (Edo Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Rivers Angels), Rofiat Imuran (Rivers Angels)
Midfielders:
Jennifer Echegini (Florida State University, USA); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Amanda Mbadi Uju (Atasehir Belediyespor, Turkey); Deborah Abiodun (Rivers Angels)
Forwards:
Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Uchenna Kanu (Tigres Femenil, Mexico); Vivian Ikechukwu (WFC Gintra, Lithuania); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Gift Monday (Bayelsa Queens); Esther Onyenezide (FC Robo Queens)
