AFCON 2024 Qualifier: Madugu Replaces Oshoala, Echegini

Coach Justin Madugu has been compelled to pick replacements for forward Asisat Oshoala and midfielder Jennifer Echegini after the duo voluntarily opted out of the Super Falcons’ squad that is due to contest a 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying fixture against Cape Verde, with the first leg in Abuja in four days. NFF’s Assistant Director (Technical), Abdulrafiu Yusuf, said the two players had been sent their flight tickets to travel to Nigeria a whole week before they announced on Saturday that they would be unable to join the squad. “We were surprised that they had the flight tickets for so long and did not say anything, only for them to send different messages on Saturday that they would be unable to make the trip. However, Coach Madugu has moved swiftly to call up replacements for them,” disclosed Yusuf. Midfield lynchpin Halimatu Ayinde, who missed the 2024 Olympics qualifying fixture against Ethiopia last month, is still out injured, and forward Ifeoma Onumonu also requested to be left out, saying she is nursing an injury. Defender Michelle Alozie told the team administrator that she will be undergoing a surgery. Madugu has called up Portugal-based Peace Efih to once again fill the space vacated by Ayinde, while Rivers Angels’ midfielder Motunrayo Ezekiel will take the place of Christy Ucheibe, who is unable to travel to Nigeria from her base in Portugal. Nigeria U20 Girls’ ace forward Chioma Olise will take the place of US-based Echegini while Chiamaka Chukwu of Rivers Angels has been called up to take Oshoala’s place. The Super Falcons will host the first leg of the fixture against their counterparts from Cape Verde at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Thursday, 30th November, with the second leg scheduled for the Santiago-Estadio Nacional Blue Shark in Praia on Tuesday, 5th December. NEW LIST OF INVITED PLAYERS: Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Christiana Obia (Edo Queens) Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachuca FC, Mexico); Glory Edet (FCF TP Mazembe, DR Congo); Rihanat Kasali (Bayelsa Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Akudo Ogbonna (Remo Stars Ladies); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France)  Midfielders: Motunrayo Ezekiel (Rivers Angels); Esther Onyenezide (FC Robo Queens); Peace Efih (Sporting Club de Braga, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Deborah Abiodun (University of Pittsburgh, USA); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Chioma Olise (Edo Queens)  Forwards: Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Chiamaka Chukwu (Rivers Angels); Esther Okoronkwo (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain).

Uba Sani Cup: Babangida appoints Lawal, Sadi, Others Into Technical Committee

Chairman of the Governor Uba Sani Unity Cup, Tijani Babangida has appointed former Nigerian International, Dahiru Sadi, current head coach of the Nations U-17 team, Ahmed Lawal as members of the technical committee for the event which is billed to commence November 17, 2023. Other members of the think-tank committee, include current assistant coach to coach Nduka Ugbade, a man popularly known as Mourinho, and Ahmadu Lawal Ofoje. He is also with the football collage, Abuja. The other person in the group is current U-15 chief coach, Patrick Bassey. The rest are Gidi Mohammed, a former Ranchers Bees captain who is also a state coach with sport council in Kaduna state, Al Amin, a talented youth coach, also with Kaduna state sports council, and Hassan Abdallah, former coach with heartland fc of Owerri, who also worked with coach Samson Siasia as a national scout for the Nations U-23 team. According to Babangida who himself was a former Nigerian international noted that the technical team is expected to move round the venues with a view to identifying very talented players that would be selected to form the new football club for the state. Meanwhile, the draws for the tournament were held on Tuesday in the city of Kaduna, and the twenty-three local governments were divided into four centres. GROUPINGS ZONE 1 – KUDAN CENTRE  GROUP A 1. ZARIA 2. SOBA 3. KUDAN 4. IKARA ZONE 1 – KUDAN CENTRE  GROUP B 1. S/GARI 2. LERE 3. MAKARFI 4. KUBAU ZONE 2 – KADUNA CENTRE  GROUP A 1. K/NORTH 2. CHIKUN 3. B/GWARI 4. IGABI ZONE 2 – KADUNA CENTRE  GROUP B 1. KAJURU 2. GIWA 3. K/SOUTH ZONE 3 – KAFANCHAN CENTRE  GROUP A A. KACHIA B. KAGARKO C. JABA D. Z/KATAF ZONE 3 – KAFANCHAN CENTRE  GROUP B 1. JAMA’A 2. KAURU 3. KAURA 4. SANGA