Super Falcons of Nigeria players and officials started arriving in Angers on Wednesday, ahead of Saturday’s friendly game with France’s Les Bleues.
It is the second time both teams will face each other in a friendly, after France thrashed the nine-time African champions 8-0 at Stade Marie-Marvingt in April 2018.
Only France-based goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and Mexico-based defender Osinachi Ohale remain from that Super Falcons team routed by France over six years ago, as head coach Justine Madugu seeks to build a new squad.
That 8-0 defeat equalled the Super Falcons’ biggest-ever losses – by Norway at the 1995 FIFA World Cup in Sweden and by Germany in a friendly in Leverkusen’s Bay Arena on 25th November 2010.
However, matches between Nigeria and France at the FIFA Women’s World Cup have been much more competitive, with the Super Falcons losing by one goal against Les Bleues in Germany in 2011, and by the same margin at the Roazhon Park when both sides clashed at the 2019 finals hosted by France.
Saturday’s friendly with France comes five weeks after the first of two Super Falcons friendly matches with Algeria’s Green Ladies (2-0 and 4-1 wins), and eight days after Nigeria were drawn against Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana in the group phase at the 13th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco next summer.
The match will kick off at 9.30pm French time, same time as in Nigeria.
SUPER FALCONS SQUAD FOR LES BLEUES FRIENDLY:
Goalkeepers:
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Anderline Mgbechi (Rivers Angels); Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons)
Defenders:
Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies, Saudi Arabia); Rofiat Imuran (London City Lioness, England); Sikiratu Isah (Nasarawa Amazons); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive, Turkey)
Midfielders:
Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint Germain, France); Toni Payne (Everton Ladies, England); Josephine Mathias (Nasarawa Amazons); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Shukurat Oladipo (FC Robo Queens); Adoo Yina (Nasarawa Amazons)
Forwards:
Blessing Nkor (Pyramids FC, Egypt); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa (Spain); Ifeoma Onumonu (Montpellier FC, France); Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa (Spain); Mercy Omokwo (Bayelsa Queens)
