TheCable

Super Falcons coach Edwin Okon named Perpetua Nkwocha, Stella Mbachu and Precious Dede in the Nigeria squad for the 2014 African Women Championship (AWC) in Namibia.

The veteran trio with a combined age of 108 will be joined by 11 players from local side Rivers Angels and six foreign-based players in the 21-woman squad.

Four-time African Footballer of the year, Nkwocha , 38, will be making her eighth AWC appearance, while Mbachu, 36, will be featuring in her ninth.

Asisat Oshoala, whowas conferred with a national honour of Member of the Order of Niger (MON) by President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday, is also in the squad.

With six titles in the kitty and being the most successful team in the competition’s history, the Super Falcons will be out to redeem their image after they finished fourth in the last edition.

The Super Falcons are in Group A with hosts Namibia, debutantes Zambia and Ivory Coast in the championship to be played between October 11 and 25, 2014.

Nigeria are the only African team to have played in all FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments since 1991 and are expected to be in the next edition in Canada scheduled for June 6 to July 5, 2015 after a successful qualification championship in Namibia.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Precious Dede (Ibom Queens), Ibubeleye White (Rivers Angels), Christy Ohieriaku (Oshogbo Queens)

Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Houston Dash, United States), Josephine Chukwunonye, Onome Ebi (FK Minsk, Belarus), Ngozi Ebere , Ugochi Njoku and Gloria Ofoegbu (all Rivers Angels)

Midfielders: Evelyn Nwabuoku, Onyinyechi Ohadugha, Gloria Iroka, Cecilia Nku (all Rivers Angels), Ayinde Halimat, Ngozi Okobi (both Delta Queens)

Strikers: Desire Oparanozie (En Avent Guingamp, France), Perpetua Nkwocha (Sunnana SK, Sweden), Esther Sunday (FK Minsk, Belarus), Asisat Oshoala, Stella Mbachu (both Rivers Angels), Francisca Ordega (Pitea IFF, Sweden)