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FULL LIST: Oshoala, Ajibade Make Super Falcons Squad For Paris

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Coach Randy Waldrum has revealed the list of players invited to represent the Nigerian women’s national team, the Super Falcons, in the upcoming Paris Olympics final qualifying fixture against South Africa.

Among the 22 players called up are captain Rasheedat Ajibade, Asisat Oshoala, and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, Soccernet.ng reports.

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Saudi Arabia-based defender, Ashley Plumptre, veteran Osinachi Ohale, and midfielder Deborah Abiodun also made the list.

Notable returns include 2019 World Cup standout Chidinma Okeke and forward Chiwendu Ihezuo. U20 defender, Shukurat Oladipo, receives her maiden call-up.

READ ALSO: OPINION: Murder And Vengeance In Okuama

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The Super Falcons are set to take on South Africa in a two-match series, with the initial encounter slated for April 5 at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

The return leg is slated for April 9 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.

The winner of the tie will clinch one of Africa’s two tickets to the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.

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Regulars like wing-back Michelle Alozie, midfielders Christy Ucheibe and Halimatu Ayinde, and forward Gift Monday in the squad were also retained.

The invited players are listed below:

Goalkeepers:

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Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC)

Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia)

Linda Jiwuaku (Bayelsa Queens)

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READ ALSO: Three Feared Killed In Delta Auto Crash

Defenders:

Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico)

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Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies, Saudi Arabia)

Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens)

Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA)

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Nicole Payne (Portland Thorns FC, USA)

Chidinma Okeke (Mynavi Sendai Ladies, Japan)

Midfielders: Deborah Abiodun (University of Pittsburgh, USA)

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Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosengard, Sweden)

Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal)

Jennifer Echegini (Juventus Ladies, Italy)

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Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain)

Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain)

Forwards:

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Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain)

Esther Okoronkwo (Changchun FC, China)

Ifeoma Onumonu (SLC Utah, USA)

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Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC, USA)

Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA)

Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain)

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Chiwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico)

 

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Nigerian Women Are Built Different, Says Ogoke After D’Tigress Win As Practising Surgeon

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arah Ogoke, a practising surgeon and veteran member of Nigeria’s national women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, has hailed the mental strength and resilience of Nigerian women after the team clinched a historic fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title.

Speaking during an interview with Arise TV on Tuesday, Ogoke credited discipline and resilience as the major factors in how she’s been able to combine her medical career and playing basketball.

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I’m built different. Nigerian women are built different. We do amazing things and the impossible. My secret is nothing short of discipline, resilience, determination, hard work, and focus,” she said.

The 35-year-old veteran, who specialises in podiatric medicine, the diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle conditions, was named in the squad months after giving birth and suffering the loss of her father last year. She revealed that she had taken time off her medical duties to join the team for the tournament.

READ ALSO:Gov Aiyedatiwa Gifts Ondo-born Super Falcons Player N30m, House

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Absolutely, I’m using my vacation days to be here. My job is waiting for me when I go back,” she said.

Ogoke, who holds a degree in biology, drew parallels between the discipline of medical training and elite sport.

The four years that I spent in medical school, I learnt how to work diligently and steadily on a specific skill set over the course of a long period of time. That can be translated to the skills necessary to be successful in basketball.”

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A key figure in Nigeria’s basketball resurgence over the past decade, Ogoke has been part of every AfroBasket-winning squad since 2017. She attributed the team’s sustained dominance to the grit and mentality of Nigerian women.

READ ALSO:WAFCON: You’ve Inscribed Nigeria’s Name In Gold – FG To Super Falcons

The blood we have in our veins as Nigerian women is different. We have the tenacity, pride, grit that we just refuse to lose. We’ve held our crown since 2017, and we don’t plan on giving it up soon.”

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Reflecting on the final match where Nigeria was tied 41-41 at halftime against Mali, she revealed a wake-up call from the coach, Rena Wakama, pushed the team to step up.

Coach Rena wasn’t nice about it at all. She told us, ‘We were the better team, but this team here came to beat us. They didn’t come for vacation or just to be here. Their objective was to beat us, and if we let that happen, then let them do it.’ That woke us up, and we played like the team that we are.”

READ ALSO:Fire At Egbin Power Station Damages TCN Transformer

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Now, with Nigeria qualified for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, Ogoke says her focus and that of the team is on reaching new heights on the global stage.

“I see playing for Nigeria as a privilege and not a right. Every year that they reach out to me and ask me to be a part of the programme, I’m thankful because they don’t have to call me. Now that we’ve qualified for the World Cup, we’re hoping to build on our success at the Olympics and, by God’s good grace, bring home a medal.”

Following the team’s victory, President Bola Tinubu on Monday, gifted the D’Tigress $100,000 to each of the players, $50,000 each for the 11-man coaching and technical team, and bedroom flats at Renewed Hope Estate for every member of the team and coaching staff.

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NPFL: Bendel Insurance Announce Departure Of 25 Players

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Bendel Insurance have announced the departure of 25 players ahead of the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, season.

Captain Meyiwa Oritseweyinmi, Austin Ogunye, and Bernard Ovoke are among the top stars who have left the Benin Arsenal.

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Other key players, who left the club are Moses Abioye, Uche Collins, Michael Enaruna, and Uche Collins.

READ ALSO:NPFL: Go For Victory, Enabulele Tasks Bendel Insurance FC

The Benin City club are expected to make new signings to replace the departed players before the commencement of the new campaign.

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Insurance finished in a respectable fifth position last season with 56 points from 38 games.

They will face El-kanemi Warriors in their opening fixture of the new season.

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PHOTO: Okocha Hosts Ex-coach Clemens Westerhof In Lagos

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Nigerian football icon Jay-Jay Okocha recently hosted his former Super Eagles coach, Clemens Westerhof, at his Lagos home.

Westerhof, who posted photos from the visit on Instagram on Friday, called it an “unforgettable night of my life” and thanked Okocha for his warm hospitality.

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Westerhof, a Dutch national, managed the Nigerian national team from 1989 to 1994.

READ ALSO:AFCON 2021: Jay Jay Okocha Names One Player Nigeria Didn’t Miss

Under his leadership, the Super Eagles won their second Africa Cup of Nations title in 1994 and made their FIFA World Cup debut the same year, impressively topping a group that included Argentina, Bulgaria, and Greece.

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Okocha made his national team debut during Westerhof’s tenure and later became one of Nigeria’s most iconic footballers.

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