Nigeria vs USA: Four U-20s make Falcons squad

Head Coach of the Super Falcons, Randy Waldrum, has selected four players from Nigeria’s U-20 girls that reached the quarter-finals at the just-concluded FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica

The Super Falcons of Nigeria have arrived in Kansas City, Kansas, United State for their doubleheader friendly with the United States Women’s National Team.

The PUNCH reports that the Super Falcons will play the first of their two-match tour at the Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City on Saturday, September 3.

Nigeria and the USWNT have qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup which will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand between July and August 2023.

Both teams will clash again at the Audi Field in Washington, D.C. three days after the first match in Kansas on Tuesday, September 6.

The four U-20 players are defenders Oluwatosin Demehin and Rofiat Imuran, and midfielders Esther Onyenezide and Deborah Abiodun.

Home-based professionals Christy Ohiaeriaku, Akudo Ogbonna and Gift Monday were also included in the squad.

First-choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Osinachi Ohale, midfielder Toni Payne, and forwards Rasheedat Ajibade and Uchenna Kanu will provide the spine for an interesting Nigeria selection.

The USWNT have won four out of the eight titles that have been contested, making them the most successful team in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Stars & Stripes won the inaugural competition in China in 1991, followed by victories on American soil in 1999, Canada in 2015, and France in 2013. The USWNT have also won eight CONCACAF championships and four gold Olympic women’s football medals.

The Super Falcons, on the other hand, have won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations nine times, played in every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and also played at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympic women’s football tournaments. They remain the most successful women’s team on the African continent.

The Children’s Mercy Park is home to Kansas City in the US National Women’s Soccer League and Sporting Kansas City in the Major League Soccer, while Audi Field is utilized by National Women’s Soccer League side Washington Spirit and Major League Soccer team, D. C. United.

The match in Kansas City will see Vlatko Andonovski, appointed Coach of USWNT at the end of 2019, return to his home area for the second time. It is the sixth time that the USWNT will be playing at the Children’s Mercy Park but it is their first time at the Audi Field, though they have played 10 times previously in Washington – all at the RFK Stadium.

Andonovski told NFF Media that he is excited to send out his girls against the Super Falcons.

“First, I’m just excited to play two matches against Nigeria. They have some very talented players who will present a lot of different problems for us to solve on both sides of the ball,” he said.

FULL SUPER FALCONS SQUAD LIST FOR FRIENDLIES WITH USA:

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Christy Ohiaeriaku (Edo Queens)

Defenders: Nicole Payne (West Virginia University, USA); Glory Ogbonna (ALG Spor, Turkey); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Akudo Ogbonna (Edo Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Rivers Angels)

Midfielders: Jennifer Echegini (Florida State University, USA); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Amanda Mbadi Uju (Atasehir Belediyespor, Turkey); Deborah Abiodun (Rivers Angels)

Forwards: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Rofiat Imuran (Rivers Angels); Uchenna Kanu (Tigres Femenil, Mexico); Vivian Ikechukwu (WFC Gintra, Lithuania); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Gift Monday (Bayelsa Queens); Esther Onyenezide (FC Robo Queens)