The Super Falcons have stepped up preparations for their 2028 Olympic qualifying campaign, with 21 players now in camp ahead of their second round tie against Comoros.
The latest arrivals include several established Nigeria internationals, with captain Rasheedat Ajibade, Jennifer Echegini, Michelle Alozie, Toni Payne and Christy Ucheibe among the players who have joined the squad.
Their arrival significantly strengthens an initially depleted camp and gives interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen a larger group to work with as Nigeria prepares for Friday’s opening leg.
The Super Falcons began assembling earlier in the week, with 14 players initially reporting to camp. The number has now risen to 21 as more of the foreign-based contingent completes its arrival.
Among the other overseas-based players in camp are Shukurat Oladipo of AS Roma, Shakirat Moshood of SCU Torreense, Glory Ogbonna of Beşiktaş, Omenazu Favour of MK Dons, Blessing Nkor of Dynamo Brest, Suliat Abideen of Fenerbahçe, Folashade Ijamilusi of Lianiong Baiye and Janet Akekoromowei of Benfica.
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The domestic contingent includes Farida Abdulwahab, Tumininu Adeshina, Joy Igbokwe, Fatimoh Solaty, Christiana Uzoma, Valentina Uroko, Glory Edet and Sandra John.
With the squad now taking shape, Eguavoen’s technical crew can turn greater attention towards tactical preparations, fitness assessment and the selection of the team for the opening leg.
Nigeria will face Comoros on Friday, October 9, at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo. The return fixture will also be played at the same venue on Tuesday, October 13, after Comoros were unable to provide a CAF-approved stadium for their home international fixture.
The two matches represent the beginning of Nigeria’s long route to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, with the Super Falcons looking to return to the women’s football tournament after missing Paris 2024.
Nigeria received a bye into the second round as one of Africa’s three highest ranked teams, alongside South Africa and Ghana.
Comoros, meanwhile, arrive at this stage after an extraordinary opening round campaign in which they defeated Sudan 30-0 on aggregate, winning the first leg 17-0 before completing the tie with a 13-0 victory.
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That remarkable scoreline secured Comoros’ progression but also sets up a considerable increase in the quality of opposition against a Nigeria side that has won a record 10 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles.
Should Nigeria overcome Comoros, they will advance to the third round scheduled for February 23 to March 6, 2027. The fourth round is scheduled for October 2027, with the final qualifying round set for November 23 to December 4, 2027.
Super Falcons players currently in camp
- Shukurat Oladipo — DF, AS Roma, Italy
- Shakirat Moshood — FW, SCU Torreense, Portugal
- Glory Ogbonna — DF, Beşiktaş, Turkey
- Omenazu Favour — MF, MK Dons, England
- Farida Abdulwahab — DF, Nasarawa Amazons
- Tumininu Adeshina — DF, Edo Queens
- Joy Igbokwe — MF, Nasarawa Amazons
- Fatimoh Solaty — MF, Nasarawa Amazons
- Christiana Uzoma — GK, Edo Queens
- Blessing Nkor — FW, Dynamo Brest, Belarus
- Valentina Uroko — DF, Edo Queens
- Glory Edet — DF, Bayelsa Queens
- Sandra John — DF, Rivers Queens
- Suliat Abideen — DF, Fenerbahçe, Turkey
- Folashade Ijamilusi — FW, Lianiong Baiye, China
- Toni Payne — MF, Inter Milan, Italy
- Christy Ucheibe — MF, Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia
- Janet Akekoromowei — FW, Benfica, Portugal
- Rasheedat Ajibade — FW, PSG, France
- Jennifer Echegini — MF, PSG, France
- Michelle Alozie — DF, Chicago Stars, USA
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