Super Falcons: Coach Okon Names 21 Players for AWC

Coach Edwin Okon has named Nigeria 21-woman party for the 2014 African Women Championship (AWC) in Namibia.

Stella Mbachu, Perpetua Nkwocha and Precious Dede are the veterans included in the group. Asisat Oshoala, who was top scorer and Most Valuable Player at the Fifa Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada last month, will be making her debut appearance.

Both Oshoala, 20, and Mbachu, 36, are among 11 players from local side Rivers Angels shortlisted. Sweden-based Nkwocha- a four-time African women footballer of the year- headlines a list of 6 foreign-based professionals to fly Nigeria’s flag in Namibia.

The Super Falcons finished fourth in the last edition- their worst-ever finish. The last of their 6-time triumph came in 2010 in South Africa.

Nigeria have been placed in the same group as hosts Namibia, debutantes Zambia and Ivory Coast.

The tournament will hold between 11-25 October 2014 in two stadiums in Windhoek. It also serves as qualification for the Fifa Women’s World Cup, which comes up in Canada from June 6 to July 5, 2015.

Full squad:

Goalkeepers: Precious Dede (Ibom Queens), Ibubeleye White (Rivers Angels), Christy Ohieriaku (Oshogbo Queens)

Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Houston Dash, United States), Josephine Chukwunonye, Onome Ebi (FK Minsk, Belarus), Ngozi Ebere , Ugochi Njoku and Gloria Ofoegbu (all Rivers Angels)

Midfielders
: Evelyn Nwabuokn, Onyinyechi Ohadugha, Gloria Iroka, Cecilia Nku (all Rivers Angels), Ayinde Halimat, Ngozi Okobi (both Delta Queens)

Strikers
: Desire Oparanozie (En Avent Guingamp, France), Perpetua Nkwocha (SunnanĂĄ SK, Sweden), Esther Sunday (FK Minsk, Belarus), Asisat Oshoala, Stella Mbachu (both Rivers Angels), Francisca Ordega (Pitea IFF, Sweden)