WAFCON: Madugu Names Three NWFL Players in Super Falcons Squad

Nigeria Women’s National Football Team Head Coach Justine Madugu has selected three players from the Nigerian Women’s Football League (NWFL) in a 24-player squad to represent Nigeria in the 13th edition of the Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The selected players are Miracle Usani from Edo Queens and Rachael Unachukwu and Sikiratu Isah from Nasarawa Amazons.

The prestigious tournament will take place from Saturday, July 5, to Saturday, July 26, 2025, in Morocco. The Super Falcons are aiming for their 10th title, having previously won the championship nine times (in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016, and 2018) since the tournament was fully established in 1998, when they hosted and emerged victorious.

With nine titles, the Super Falcons are the most successful team in WAFCON history, having reached at least the semi-finals in every edition they have participated in. In the previous edition in 2022, the team finished in fourth place after losing to Morocco 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the semi-finals. They also lost the third-place match against Zambia 1-0.

A significant portion of the squad began training sessions in the Federal Capital, Abuja, on Thursday, with additional sessions scheduled for Friday and Saturday. They will depart for their final training camp in Lisbon, Portugal, on Sunday morning.

Madugu has also included Saudi Arabia-based defender Ashleigh Plumptre, US-based fan favorite Michelle Alozie, veteran defender Osinachi Ohale, and midfielders Deborah Abiodun, Jennifer Echegini, and Christy Ucheibe. Midfield lynchpin Halimatu Ayinde makes a return to the squad.

The Nigeria Football Federation has organized friendly matches for the team against the senior women’s national teams of Portugal and Ghana, allowing them to prepare ahead of their group B matches against Tunisia, Botswana, and Algeria at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.

The Falcons will face off against their Portuguese counterparts in Lisbon on June 23, followed by a match against the Black Queens of Ghana in Morocco on June 29.

FULL SUPER FALCONS FOR 13TH WAFCON FINALS:

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (just finished contract with Paris FC, France); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons)

Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma, Italy); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies FC, Saudi Arabia); Sikiratu Isah (Nasarawa Amazons); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive, Turkey); Miracle Usani (Edo Queens)

Midfielders: Rasheedat Ajibade (just finished contract with Atletico Madrid, Spain); Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosenburg, Sweden); Deborah Abiodun (Dallas Trinity, USA); Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint Germain, France); Toni Payne (Everton Ladies, England); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal)

Forwards: Francisca Ordega (Ittihad Ladies Club, Saudi Arabia); Chinwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Ifeoma Onumonu (Montpellier FC, France); Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto, Canada); Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Folashade Ijamilusi (Liaoning Shenyang Shenbei Hefeng, China); Chioma Okafor (University of Connecticut, USA.)