Oshoala leads Falconets’ Canada 2014 quest

Super Falcon’s ace, Asisat Oshoala, heads Coach Peter Dedevbo’s final list of 21 players for this year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals holding in Canada.

Other notable names on the list are former U-17 stars Patience Okaeme, Halimatu Ayinde, Jiroro Idike, Uchenna Kanu and Yetunde Adeboyejo.

The squad comprises three goalkeepers, seven defenders, five midfielders and six strikers.

Dedevbo, who steered the U-17 girls, Flamingoes, to the quarter finals at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finals in Trinidad and Tobago in 2010 and in Azerbaijan in 2012, has also included US-based college star Courtney Dike, younger sister of Super Eagles’ forward Bright Dike. The forward from Oklahoma State University is the only foreign-based player in the squad.

The team will depart for Moncton, Canada through Frankfurt in two batches aboard Lufthansa Airlines flight on Thursday and Friday, from Abuja.

Nigeria have featured in every FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup since the inaugural edition, also in Canada, in 2002.

The Falconets reached the final in Germany four years ago and also made the semifinals in Japan in 2012.

This time, the team has been drawn in Group C alongside Mexico, Korea Republic and England. Their first two games will come up in Moncton, and will be followed by a trip to Edmonton to face England.

THE FULL LIST

Goalkeepers: Sandra Chiihii (Ibom Angels), Ibijoke Sangonuga (Inneh Queens), Chiudo Ehiudo (Delta Queens)

Defenders: Ebere Okoye (Nasarawa Amazons), Jiroro Idike (Delta Queens), Maryam Ibrahim (Nasarawa Amazons), Sarah Nnodim (Delta Queens), Ugo Njoku (Rivers Angels), Victoria Aidelomon (Pelican Stars), Gladys Abasi (Ibom Angels)

Midfielders: Asisat Oshoala (Rivers Angels), Patience Okaeme (Delta Queens), Halimatu Ayinde (Delta Queens), Yetunde Adeboyejo (Bayelsa Queens), Osarenoma Igbinovia (Inneh Queens)

Forwards: Loveth Ayila (Makwada Babes), Courtney Dike (Oklahoma State University, USA), Uchenna Kanu (Pelican Stars), Yetunde Aluko (Sunshine Queens), Chinwendu Ihezuo (Pelican Stars), Uchechi Sunday (Rivers Angels)