Oparanozie makes Super Falcon squad for Haiti, New Zealand games

Randy Waldrum, Super Falcons head coach, has called up 23 players ahead of next month’s international friendlies against Haiti and New Zealand.

According to the list released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Sunday, Desire Oparanozie will be returning to the team for the first time since May 2022 when she was named in the provision list for the African Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON).

She was, however, pruned from the team.

Asisat Oshoala also made the list alongside Rasheedat Ajibade, Onome Ebi, and Chiamaka Nnadozie for the friendlies that would be played in Turkey.

Nigeria will play Haiti women’s national team at the Emir Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey, on April 7 before taking on World Cup co-hosts New Zealand three days later.

Last month, Falcons participated in the four-Nation Revelation Cup in Mexico where they lost to the host and Colombia before ending their 7-match winless run against Costa Rica.

The friendlies are meant to prepare the players for the 9th FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in July.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Yewande Balogun (AS Saint-Etienne, France); Inyene Etim (Abia Angels)

Defenders: Onome Ebi (Abia Angels); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City, England); Glory Ogbonna (Besiktas JK, Turkey); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France)

Midfielders: Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosengard, Sweden); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (FC Levante Las Planas, Spain); Deborah Abiodun (Rivers Angels); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (AS Saint-Etienne, France)

Forwards: Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona Femenin, Spain); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Esther Okoronkwo (AS Saint-Etienne, France); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, Kentucky, USA); Desire Oparanozie (Wuhan Chegu Jianghan, China); Gift Monday (UDG Tenerife, Spain)