Izuchukwu OkosiSuper Falcons head coach, Randy Waldrum Friday evening named his 25-woman squad for the 2022 African Women Cup of Nations in Morocco according to the Communications department of the Nigeria Football Federation.
Defenders Ashleigh Plumptre, Nicole Payne and Michelle Alozie are among the debutants that will compete for Nigeria at the showpiece.
Experienced striker Desire Oparanozie however pulled out of the team due to border and travelling restrictions as she was unable to leave her China base due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The nine-time African champions opened their pre-tournament camp at the MKO Abiola stadium, Abuja on June 17, 2022, ahead of the competition.
The Super Falcons are scheduled to depart Nigeria for Morocco on Monday, 27th June.
Nigeria will lock horns with South Africa in their first match of the campaign on Monday, July 4. They will face debutants Botswana on July 7, and Burundi on July 10 in Rabat, Morocco.
The four semi finalists from the tournament will represent Africa at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
FULL SQUAD LIST:
GOALKEEPERS: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Tochukwu Oluehi (Maccabi Kishronot Hadera, Israel); Yewande Balogun (Coppermine United, USA)
DEFENDERS:
Glory Ogbonna (Santa Teresa FC, Spain); Onome Ebi (En Avant Guingamp, France); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City, England); Nicole Payne (West Virginia University, USA); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Akudo Ogbonna (Edo Queens).
MIDFIELDERS:
Peace Efih (Kiryat Gat, Israel); Halimatu Ayinde (Eskilstuna FC, Sweden); Toni Oyedupe Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (Minsk FC, Belarus); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Rita Chikwelu (Madrid CFF, Spain); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (Eskilstuna FC, Sweden)
FORWARDS:
Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Vivian Ikechukwu (WFC Gintra, Lithuania); Chinonyerem Macleans (GSK Gornik Leczna, Poland); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Uchenna Kanu (Tigres Femenil, Mexico); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain); Gift Monday (Bayelsa Queens).
The 12th African Women Cup of Nations will take place in Morocco from 2nd July– 23rd July, 2022.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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