We shouldn’t understate what a FIFA Women’s World Cup can provide for Nigeria women’s football as a whole. The current crop of Nigerian female footballers find themselves heading to FIFA’s flagship event for a specific set of reasons.
They had a dream. They dared to dream. And there were athletes, whether from the Super Eagles or Falcons, who paved the way for the next generation – physically or emotionally – to seize a future as a professional Nigerian female footballer.
Think back to our best ever finish in 1999. The art of punching above one’s weight signifies Nigeria’s route to the quarter finals. In turn, the generation we see before us now were equipped with awe, passion, and belief in equal measure.
Nigeria Women’s World Cup 2023 Squad and Latest Odds
As a Super Falcons fan, the Nigeria Women’s World Cup squad odds to win the tournament is a little surprising. Look, it would take a monumental effort to overthrow the likes of the USA (3.60), England (5.00) and Spain (6.50). However, the quoted 401.00 on Bet9Ja feels a little disrespectful to us. There’s raw, hungry, determined talent in this Nigerian side.
Goalkeepers
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC)
Yewande Balogun (Saint-Étienne)
Tochukwu Oluehi (Hakkarigücü Spor)
Defenders
Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alavés)
Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City)
Glory Ogbonna (ALG Spor)
Oluwatosin Demehin (Reims)
Rofiat Imuran (Reims)
Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash)
Onome Ebi (Abia Angels)
Midfielders
Halimatu Ayinde (Rosengård)
Christy Ucheibe (Benfica)
Toni Payne (Sevilla)
Deborah Abiodun (Pittsburgh)
Rasheedat Ajibade (Atlético Madrid)
Jennifer Echegini (Florida State Seminoles)
Forwards
Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona)
Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville FC)
Ifeoma Onumonu (NJ/NY Gotham)
Desire Oparanozie (Wuhan Chegu Jianghan)
Esther Okoronkwo (Saint-Étienne)
Gift Monday (UD Granadilla Tenerife)
Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow)
Nigeria Women’s football players
If there is anyone capable from the current Nigeria Women’s World Cup squad that can ignite a flame under the nation’s chances of performing, we know it is Asisat Oshoala. The Barcelona forward, who lifted the Champions League with Barcelona this term, is the most exciting talent at Nigeria’s disposal and we cannot wait to watch her.
You saw Oshoala score five goals and get three assists in just six starts in the Champions League. Oshoala has 83 goals in 89 matches and an appearance on the 2023 FIFA Ballon d’Or shortlist. This is why we think she is amongst the best in Nigeria Women’s football history.
If we see Oshoala score at the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the Nigeria Women’s World Cup Squad, she would become the only African Women’s player in history to score at three World Cups (2015, 2019, and potentially 2023).
Oshoala will be leading the line for the Nigeria Women’s World Cup Squad, aided by the 23-year-old Rasheedat Ajibade of Atletico Madrid. Both possess pace, skills and an eye goal.
If the Super Falcons are planning to spread their wings, you will see that these two will be the reason why.
Strengths and Opportunities of the Squad
The strength of Nigeria Women’s football and women’s football in Africa is often the mental aspect. We have seen a Nigeria Women’s World Cup squad qualify for every single edition of the event.
You’ll see the experience in this current Nigeria Women’s football team. Just look at the squad list above.
Asisat Oshoala at Barcelona has been on fire in Spain, scoring 21 goals. Elsewhere, Rasheedat Ajibade of Atletico Madrid wants to muscle in on the action In July and August. You’ll see these players are ready to take on the world’s best.
There is an attacking feel to to this Nigeria Women’s World Cup squad. The Super Falcons will take seven forwards to the competition.
The midfield options are to be picked from a pool of six. This is why we think the Nigeria Women’s World Cup Squad are arriving to upset the odds in Group B.
Who is Nigeria Women’s football manager
In 1978, Pittsburg State University Women’s team head coach, Randy Waldrum, started his career. Then, he was blissfully unaware of whether he would take the route through domestic football, or sample the glitz and glamour of international life.
Waldrum navigated a number of universities in the States as men’s and women’s head coach, before being offered the role to oversee the Trinidad and Tobago Women’s setup in 2014.
Randy managed Houston Dash alongside his first international foray for two years. It was then that you may know he was offered the chance to manage the Nigeria Women’s side. It did not happen for another three years as he stayed in the States.
The allure of women’s football in Africa, and the prospect of featuring at the FIFA Women’s World Cup was evidently too strong in the end. Waldrum accepted the role in 2020.
Fast forward three years and Randy Waldrum, equipped with the potential to alter Nigeria Women’s football history, is heading to Australia and New Zealand.
Prominent Players Missing from the Squad
Only 23 players will be allowed to head to the competition from any given nation. Randy Waldrum has been picking 23 names for his pre-tournament friendlies, rather than the bloated squads found elsewhere in the competition.
We think this shows that the experienced manager is content with a smaller group and already knows his best squad.
Luckily for Randy Waldrum, there are no prominent missing players.
Nigeria Women’s World Cup: Betting Opportunities
The best betting sites in Nigeria will best display Nigeria’s chances of progressing in the tournament, but we’ll do the Super Falcons justice. It’s safe to say that the Nigeria Women’s World Cup squad are the underdogs.
Looking at Group B, the bookmakers suggest there’s a mountain to climb from start to finish. Some would call it impossible to be 34.00 to progress from the group. We see some value in that price.
If we can hold Canada to at least a draw in the opening fixture, and get a result against Ireland in the third and final group stage match, Nigeria have every chance of reaching the knockout stages.
It should be mentioned that out of the four teams in Group B, Nigeria has made more appearances at a World Cup than any of the others.
As previously mentioned, the 401.00 price to win the entire tournament shows the quality in the other nations. It will be difficult to topple the might of The US and leading European nations.
We think the Nigeria Women’s World Cup squad can blow sides away with the attacking talent. You can back Top 2 (to reach the final) at 126.00.
