Super Falcons vs Ethiopia: Ohale, Ucheibe and Otu replaced for Nigeria's Olympic qualifier

Midfielder Esther Onyenezide has been drafted to replace 2023 FIFA World Cup star Halimatu Ayinde in Nigeria's squad for the 2024 Women Olympic Football Tournament matchup against Ethiopia's senior women's national team.

Onyenezide made an impression at last year's FIFA U20 Women's World Cup finals in Costa Rica, helping Nigeria advance to the quarterfinals.

The foreign-based players have begun to arrive for the crucial match.

On Sunday, a delegation of home-based players and technical and backroom personnel from Nigeria took a plane to Addis Ababa for Wednesday's first-leg match at the Abebe Bekila Stadium.

On Tuesday, October 31, 2023, the Super Falcons will host the second leg of their second-round match at MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

Osinachi Ohale, a defender for Pachuca FC in Mexico, and midfielder Regina Otu, who was absent from the FIFA Women's World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand this summer, will not play in this match.

Christy Ucheibe, a Portuguese player for SL Benfica and another World Cup star, is also not participating in the match.

The winner of the match between Uganda and Cameroon will face the winner of the Super Falcons vs Ethiopia match.

The Ugandan team defeated Rwanda 4-3 overall, while the Indomitable Lionesses were given a bye.

In the first round of the series, which was contested in July, Ethiopia's senior girls, also known by the nickname Lucy, defeated the senior women's national team of Chad 10-0.

The Ethiopians defeated their hosts 4-0 in N'Djamena five days after winning the first leg 6-0 in Addis Ababa on July 13.

Lamia Atman of Algeria will officiate the match on Wednesday, according to the Confederation of African Football.

Her countrymen Asma Feriel Ouahab, Sara Kemmad, and Ghada Mehat will serve as assistant referees 1, 2, and 4, respectively.

Tabitha Wambui Njoroge from Kenya will be the match commissioner, and Rwandan Angelique Tuyishime will act as the referee assessor.

Togo's Edoh Kindedji will serve as referee for the return leg on Tuesday in Abuja.

Her countrymen Abra Sitsofe Agbedanou and Kossiwa Kayigan Awoutey will serve as assistant referees 1 and 2, respectively.

Mauritania's Yacine Samassa will serve as the fourth official.

The match commissioner will be Christine Ziga of Ghana, and the referee assessor will be Daloba Oulare of Guinea.

Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Monle Oyono (Bayelsa Queens)

Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Nicole Payne (Paris Saint Germain, France); Jumoke Alani (Edo Queens); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France)

Esther Onyenezide (FC Robo Queens); Peace Efih (Sporting Club de Braga, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain)

Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona Feminine, Spain); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Opeyemi Ajakaye (FC Robo Queens)