In Kobe, Ajibade captains the Falcons against Japan.
When Nigeria's senior women team takes on Japan in a famous international friendly game on Thursday in Kobe, star striker Rasheedat Ajibade will be in charge (today).
Asisat Oshoala, a forward based in Spain, will not be in Kobe for this match because Onome Ebi, the team's captain, is still healing from an injury she sustained at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco in July.
Three of Nigeria's goals in Morocco were scored by the young Ajibade, including the decisive strike against Cameroon in the quarterfinals that earned the nine-time African champions a spot in the Women's World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand in 2019.
Additionally, defenders Michelle Alozie, Osinachi Ohale, Ashleigh Plumptre, and Glory Ogbonna are eligible, as are midfielders Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene, Christy Ucheibe, and Deborah Abiodun, forwards Ifeoma Onumonu, and Uchenna Kanu. The starting goalkeeper is Chiamaka Nnadozie.
Goalkeeper Peace Obidinma, defenders Jumoke Alani and Akudo Ogbonna, midfielders Peace Efih and Esther Onyenezide, attackers Amanda Uju Mbadi and Flourish Sebastian, and goalkeepers Peace Efih and Esther Onyenezide are also in Kobe.
At the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in August in Costa Rica, the Nigeria U20 team included Abiodun, Obidinma, Alani, Onyenezide, and Sebastian.
At the Noevir Stadium in Kobe, starting at 4.30 p.m. Japan time (8.30 a.m. Nigeria time), the Super Falcons, who have been a constant presence at the Women's World Cup, take on the former world champions Japan.
References
[1] Punchng, 'Ajibade leads Falcons against Japan in Kobe' (online, 2022) https://punchng.com/ajibade-leads-falcons-against-japan-in-kobe/.
