FALCONETS head coach Christopher Musa Danjuma has invited 30 players for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers against Tanzania.
The players include goalkeepers Faith Omilana and Linda Jiwuaku, defenders Jumoke Alani and Tumininu Adeshina, midfielders Taiwo Afolabi, Chinyere Kalu and Chidera Okenwa, and forwards Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, Yina Adoo and Opeyemi Ajakaye, some of who were in the Flamingos squad that attended the U-17 Women’s World Cup last year.
Following the withdrawal of Mauritius from the second round tie with Nigeria, the 2022 World Cup quarter-finalists drew a bye to the third round, where Tanzania await, with the first leg away in Dar es Salaam on a date within November 10 and November 12, and the return leg in Abuja the following week.
Danjuma has also included some of the players who were in the Falconets squad that reached U-20 Women’s World Cup quarter-finals in Costa Rica last year.
The invited players have been told to report at the Chida Hotel in Utako, Abuja tomorrow, the Nigeria Football Federation said.
FIFA has increased the number of finalists for next year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia to 24, from the 16 that participated in Costa Rica, and also increased the number of Africa’s representatives to four.
This means that after the Tanzania fixture, the Falconets will have one round to go before qualification for the tournament in Colombia in September 2024.
ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:
Goalkeepers:
Linda Jiwuaku (Bayelsa Queens); Faith Omilana (Naija Ratels); Anderlin Mgbechi (Delta Queens); Shukurat Bakare (Nasarawa Amazons)
Defenders:
Jumoke Alani (Edo Queens); Oluwabunmi Semilore (Naija Ratels); Oluchi Ohaegbunam (Nasarawa Amazons); Tumininu Adeshina (Naija Ratels); Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Monica Elejo (Nasarawa Amazons); Alake Kasali (Bayelsa Queens)
Midfielders:
Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens); Chinyere Kalu (Nasarawa Amazons); Vera Samuel (Delta Queens); Shukurat Sobowale (Nasarawa Amazons); Esther Inyang (Delta Queens); Aminat Folorunsho (Rivers Angels); Gloria Evans (FCT Academy); Chidera Okenwa (Delta Queens)
Forwards:
Chiamaka Okwuchukwu (Rivers Angels); Chinasa Ogor (Delta Queens); Opeyemi Ajakaye (FC Robo Queens); Adaobi Okoh (Remo Queens); Chioma Olise (Edo Queens); Chisom China (Bayelsa Queens); Lydia Joshua (Heartland Queens); Delight Isaac (Dannz Ladies); Jenat Akekoromowei (Asisat Academy); Yina Adoo (Nasarawa Amazons)
