Nigeria's Super Falcons have commenced preparations for their 2028 Olympic qualifying campaign, but several key players are missing. The team began training in Ikenne on Monday with 14 players, under the guidance of interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen. Defender Ashley Plumptre and forward Asisat Oshoala have been excused from the assignment due to injuries and other issues. Their absences have forced Eguavoen to make adjustments to his squad.
Plumptre suffered a sprain and ligament injury, while Oshoala was granted permission to miss the assignment. Benfica duo Oluwatosin Demehin and Flourish Sabastine will not join the squad due to resident permit issues. Eguavoen has called up Belarus-based former U20 forward Blessing Okpe to replace Oshoala. The team is preparing for a two-legged encounter against Comoros, with the first leg scheduled for Friday and the return fixture on Tuesday, 13 October.
The absences have also led to the release of two players initially invited for the Olympic qualifiers to the Flamingos. Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, the Most Valuable Player of the recently concluded WAFU-B U17 Girls Cup competition in Yamoussoukro, and Favour Nkwocha, who featured for the Falconets at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Poland, have returned to the U17 team. The Flamingos are scheduled to leave Nigeria on Wednesday for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.
Despite the withdrawals, Eguavoen had 14 players available for Monday evening’s training session at the Remo Stars Stadium. Goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma trained alongside defenders Farida Abdulwahab, Tumininu Adeshina, Valentina Uroko, Glory Edet, Shukurat Oladipo and Glory Ogbonna. Oluchi Omenazu, Joy Igbokwe, Fatimoh Solaty and Suliat Abideen formed the midfield group, while forwards Shakirat Moshood, Blessing Nkor and Sandra John completed the group.
Eleven more players are expected to join the squad as preparations intensify. Among those expected are goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Michelle Alozie, midfielders Christy Ucheibe, Toni Payne and Jennifer Echegini, as well as captain Rasheedat Ajibade and forward Gift Monday. Joy Omewa, Janet Akekoromowei and Uchenna Kanu are also expected in camp. The arrival of the established players will give Eguavoen more options as he works to settle his team.
Nigeria returned to the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament at Paris 2024 after a 16-year absence. The 10-time African champions are now seeking back-to-back appearances at the Games, with Los Angeles 2028 their next target. The Falcons will host Comoros in the first leg on Friday before the return fixture at the Remo Stars Stadium on Tuesday, 13 October. The short turnaround between the two matches leaves Eguavoen with limited preparation time.
The Olympic qualifying campaign also gives Nigeria a chance to respond after a disappointing 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign and its subsequent failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. For the Falcons, the immediate objective is to secure a favourable result in the opening encounter and take control of the tie before the return leg. Eguavoen's team will look to build on their recent successes and make a strong impression in the Olympic qualifiers.
Key points
- Key players Oshoala and Plumptre are missing from the Falcons' Olympic qualifying preparations due to injuries and other issues.
- The Falcons face a short turnaround between the two legs against Comoros, making the arrival of remaining players crucial.
- Nigeria is seeking back-to-back Olympic appearances, with the 2028 Games in Los Angeles their next target.
