Casablanca Buzzes as 19 Super Falcons Gear Up for Malawi Showdown

By Samuel Akpan

With the countdown on for their opening match against Malawi, defending champions the Super Falcons now have 19 players training in Casablanca, with the final six expected to join shorty as preparations hit top gear.

Head Coach Justine Madugu and his crew led a 15-player session at the La Noria Club on Sunday night, just as fresh arrivals continued to land in camp.

Persecondnews reports that the BK Hacken duo of Halimatu Ayinde and Joy Omewa landed in the Moroccan city, while the Pachuca Tuzas pair of defender Osinachi Ohale and forward Chinwendu Ihezuo were airborne and due to join imminently.

More squad members had already checked into the team’s base at the Hotel Marriott, leaving only six players still to complete the 25-woman roster.

Several experienced campaigners had been in camp for days, among them are captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defenders Shukurat Oladipo, Oluwatosin Demehin and Christy Ucheibe, midfielders Toni Payne and Jennifer Echegini, and forwards Asisat Oshoala, Francisca Ordega and Omorinsola Babajide.

The 19 players currently on the ground comprise goalkeepers Chiamaka Nnadozie of Brighton Hove & Albion in England, Comfort Erhabor from Portsmouth Ladies and Fatima Oloko of Abia Angels.

Defenders: Osinachi Ohale of Pachuca Tuzas in Mexico, Shukurat Oladipo of AS Roma in Italy, Rofiat Imuran of London City Lionesses in England, Glory Ogbonna of FC Kiryat Gat in Israel, Oluwatosin Demehin of Galatasaray Sportive in Turkey, Sikiratu Isah of Bnot Netanya in Israel and Christy Ucheibe of SL Benfica in Portugal.

Midfielders: Rasheedat Ajibade of Paris Saint Germain in France, Halimatu Ayinde of BK Hacken in Sweden, Toni Payne of Everton Ladies in England and Jennifer Echegini of Paris Saint Germain in France.

Forwards: Asisat Oshoala of Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, Joy Omewa of BK Hacken in Sweden, Francisca Ordega of Ittihad Ladies in Saudi Arabia, Omorinsola Babajide of AS Roma in Italy and Chinwendu Ihezuo of Pachuca Tuzas in Mexico.

Still expected to link up are defender Michelle Alozie of Olivia Wynn in the United States, midfielder Deborah Abiodun from Washington Spirit and forwards Gift Monday of Washington Spirit, Esther Okoronkwo of AFC Toronto in Canada, Folashade Ijamilusi of Liaoning Shenyang Shenbei Hefeng in China and Uchenna Kanu of Cruz Azul Femenil in Mexico.

With the final-phase build-up now in full swing at the La Noria training base, the Super Falcons are focused on hitting top form when they face Malawi in their opening fixture on Tuesday, July 28.