Breaking Down The Super Falcons’ Olympic List: The Good, The Bad, And The Big Questions

The Super Falcons of Nigeria will gather for the first time since the poor WAFCON outing as they begin their 2028 Olympic qualifying campaign.

Interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen has named a 28-player squad for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic qualifying double-header against Comoros. The players are expected to report to the AM2PM Hotel in Ijebu-Ode on Saturday, October 3, with the first leg set for Friday, October 9, and the return leg on Tuesday, October 13. 

At first glance, the list looks balanced as it contains experienced players, promising youngsters and exciting new faces. However, looking beyond the names and analysing the depth of the squad, some serious questions begin to emerge.

Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the 28-player squad for Nigeria’s Olympic qualifying clash with Comoros.

THE  GOOD

1. Plumptre Is Back

The return of Ashleigh Plumptre is undoubtedly one of the biggest positives on the list, as her absence was keenly felt at the WAFCON tournament in Morocco. Her strength and disciplined defending could have helped the Falcons against the strong and mobile Chawinga sisters in their opening game of the tournament.

Her return immediately gives Nigeria another experienced option in defence and a player who can contribute at both ends of the pitch. Considering the team’s recent defensive fragility and Ohale’s retirement, having Plumptre back is certainly a boost for Eguavoen.

2. Young Players Finally Get Their Chance

Another thing many Nigerians will like about this list is the inclusion of talented young players such as Christiana Uzoma, Farida Abdulwahab, Tumininu Adeshina, Favour Nkwocha, Joy Igbokwe, Shakirat Moshood and Janet Akekoromowei. Most of them represented the Falconets at the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.

Training alongside experienced and established players like Oshoala, Ucheibe and Kanu will help the youngsters gain vital experience and ease their integration into the team. It also supports a seamless transition from the current crop of players to the next generation of Super Falcons.

3. Kemi Adegbuyi’s Call-Up Is Exciting

Kemi Adegbuyi is currently the most in-form and most celebrated teenager in Nigerian football, following her exploits with Edo Queens and the Nigeria U-17 team. At just 16, she was named the 2025/26 NWFL Premiership Player of the Season and played a major role in the Flamingos’ WAFU-B U-17 title-winning campaign, in which she scored four goals in five matches and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Giving such a talented player early exposure to the senior team could be invaluable for her development. However, this particular call-up also leads to one of Nigerians’ biggest concerns with the list.

THE  BAD 

1. Kemi Adegbuyi Desperately Needs More Rest

While many football enthusiasts were happy with her invitation, others were concerned about her fitness and health. Despite her young age, Kemi has endured a gruelling season, from the 2025/26 domestic campaign to the WAFU-B Women’s Champions League qualifiers and the WAFU-B U-17 Girls Cup in Côte d’Ivoire.

She played an integral role as Nigeria won the five-match tournament by defeating Niger, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo between September 16 and 27. 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with rewarding her performances with a senior invitation, but there is a legitimate workload question here.

With the Super Falcons camp opening on October 3, Kemi has less than a week to rest before joining her new teammates. Let us not forget that the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco opens on October 17,  and the teenager is expected to lead the line alongside captain Harmony Chidi.

At 16, going straight from an intense youth international tournament into a senior-team camp needs to be handled carefully. The call-up is exciting, but the timing raises questions.

2. The Defensive Midfield Still Looks Thin

The Super Falcons go into these qualifiers with Christy Ucheibe as the only established senior defensive-midfield option, as Joy Igbokwe is still gaining experience at this level.

What makes this more worrying is that Ucheibe would have been the ideal cover for any of our centre-backs in an unforeseen situation. As the sole experienced defensive midfielder invited, she leaves the team with no back-up plan at the back and a fragile engine room.

Regina Otu, a regular at club level who has built good chemistry with the team, would have been a solid addition. Considering Deborah Abiodun’s injury layoff, inviting Otu would also have helped her blend with the team ahead of the next phase, should Nigeria defeat Comoros.

The  BIG  QUESTIONS 

1. Why Only Two Defensive Midfielders?

This remains one of the biggest questions surrounding the list, as Christy Ucheibe and Joy Igbokwe are the only two players listed in that area. Favour Nkwocha, Fatimoh Solaty, Suliat Abideen, Toni Payne and Jennifer Echegini, who make up the remaining midfield group, are all known for their attacking prowess.

While there is plenty of attacking quality, the squad clearly lacks defensive balance, unless some of the players are deployed out of their natural positions.

2. Where Is Rinsola Babajide?

How did Rinsola Babajide miss out on a squad containing 10 forwards? This is another question the technical crew will have to answer in the build-up to the encounter.

Babajide remains the Falcons’ only natural left winger and brings balance to the left side of the pitch, especially when playing alongside Plumptre.

Considering her top-level experience, technical quality and fitness, she should easily have made the list.

Hopefully, her omission will not affect the number of chances created and the quality of play from the left flank against Comoros.

3. How Quickly Can the Young Players Adapt?

The decision to introduce young players is understandable and necessary, but senior international football is very different from youth football. While Christiana Uzoma, Janet Akekoromowei, Tumininu Adeshina, Shakirat Moshood and the other youngsters have quality, it remains to be seen how quickly they can adapt to the demands of playing alongside established Super Falcons stars.

FINAL  THOUGHTS 

There is plenty to like about this Super Falcons list. Plumptre is back, young players are being given opportunities to break into the senior national team, and the squad still contains established stars like Ajibade, Oshoala, Nnadozie, Alozie, Ucheibe and Echegini.

However, leaving out a player like Rinsola Babajide suggests that those who put the list together did not holistically consider a number of critical factors, including set-pieces. As it stands, Payne looks like the only option for set-pieces, as Esther Okoronkwo is unavailable due to injury.

Inviting 10 forwards just to load the team is not a strategy for winning. Player combinations, formation, shape, the choice of super-sub and the game plan are what win matches.

Nigeria must win on aggregate to reach the third round, where either DR Congo or Morocco awaits. The Falcons must not underate Comoros’ side that recorded a resounding 30-0 aggregate victory over Sudan in the previous round.