By Samuel Akpan
The Super Falcons’ camp in Ikenne, Ogun State, received a significant lift on Wednesday morning with the arrival of Benfica midfielder Christy Ucheibe and Al-Ittihad forward Francisca Ordega ahead of the international friendlies against Senegal.
The experienced duo arrived alongside teammates Glory Ogbonna, Blessing Nkor, Comfort Erhabor, and Sikiratu Isah, rounding out the squad for the upcoming double-header.
This latest group has linked up with eight players who arrived on Tuesday evening – Joy Omewa, Tosin Demehin, Toni Payne, Blessing Ilivieda, Folashade Ijamilusi, Anderline Mgbechi, Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene and Omorinsola Babajide.
Other early arrivals in camp include Shukurat Oladipo, Kafayat Shittu and six-time CAF Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala. With this, the Super Falcons camp now has 17 players.
Super Falcons media officer Mary Akinsola confirmed the positive developments in camp, saying: “We are delighted to welcome Christy Ucheibe and Francisca Ordega this morning.
“They have linked up with the players who arrived on Tuesday and the early group, bringing our total to 17 dedicated athletes all focused on the task ahead.”
The friendlies are set for Friday and Monday at the Remo Stars Sports Complex in Ikenne and form a crucial part of preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in July.
“These matches will help us evaluate the squad and improve our coordination as we target success at WAFCON,” Akinsola added.
Persecondnews reports that qualification ran from February to October 2025. Morocco advanced automatically as hosts.
Thirty-eight other nations contested two rounds of home-and-away ties.
Eleven teams won through in the decisive second round in late October, after which CAF added the four highest-ranked sides among the eliminated teams — Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Egypt — to reach the new 16-team format.
Nigeria, the ten-time champions and defending title holders, secured their place with a comfortable 3-1 aggregate victory over Benin.
They won the first leg 2-0 in Cotonou before drawing 1-1 at home in Abeokuta.
The Super Falcons will enter the finals as one of the strongest sides in the competition’s history.
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