Oshoala, Omewa, seven others arrive as Super Falcons commence training in Lomé
Champions Nigeria will commence training sessions on Monday in the Togolese capital, Lomé, ahead of their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying fixture — the first leg against their Beninoise counterparts — scheduled for Friday.
Six-time African Player of the Year, Asisat Oshoala, was among the early arrivals in the Super Falcons’ Lomé camp, alongside new invitee Joy Omewa, Turkey-based defender Tosin Demehin, China-based forward Folashade Ijamilusi, and the home-based quintet of goalkeeper Anderline Mgbechi, defenders Blessing Ilivieda and Miracle Usani, midfielder Taiwo Afolabi, and forward Kafayat Mafisere.
Head Coach Justin Madugu has confirmed that the team will begin training sessions in Lomé on Monday afternoon as they prepare to face the Benin senior women’s team at the 25,000-capacity Stade de Kégué on Friday afternoon.
Both West African neighbours will clash in the final qualifying fixture for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations championship to be hosted by Morocco, which also serves as Africa’s qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Brazil. The encounter will kick off at 3 p.m. Togo time (4 p.m. Nigeria time).
The return leg is slated for the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, on Tuesday, October 28, 2025.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Gambian official Ngum Fatou as referee for Friday’s match, with Mauritanians Mariem Chedad and Hamedine Houleye as assistant referees 1 and 2, respectively. Gambian Isatou Touray will serve as the fourth official.
Halimatou Hamidou from Niger Republic will serve as the match commissioner, while Martha Nyekanyeka from Malawi will act as the referee assessor.
All the invited players:
Goalkeepers:
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Anderline Mgbechi (Rivers Angels); Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons)
Defenders:
Osinachi Ohale (Pachuca Club de Fútbol, Mexico); Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma, Italy); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Ashleigh Plumptre (Al-Ittihad Ladies FC, Saudi Arabia); Blessing Ilivieda (Bayelsa Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray, Turkey); Miracle Usani (Abia Angels)
Midfielders:
Rasheedat Ajibade (Paris Saint-Germain, France); Taiwo Afolabi (Rivers Angels); Deborah Abiodun (Washington Spirit, USA); Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint-Germain, France); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal)
Forwards:
Chinwendu Ihezuo (Pachuca Club de Fútbol, Mexico); Joy Omewa (Fortuna Hjørring FC, Denmark); Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto, Canada); Asisat Oshoala (Al Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia); Folashade Ijamilusi (Liaoning Shenyang Shenbei Hefeng, China); Kafayat Mafisere (Edo Queens)
