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Asisat Oshoala and midfielder Jennifer Echegini have made the decision to withdraw from the Super Falcons’ lineup set to compete in the 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying fixture against Cape Verde.
The first leg, scheduled to take place in Abuja in just four days, will now proceed without the participation of these key players.
Abdulrafiu Yusuf, the NFF’s Assistant Director (Technical), revealed that flight tickets had been issued to the duo a full week prior to their sudden announcement on Saturday, expressing their inability 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.
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.