As the excitement builds for the upcoming international friendly match between Nigeria’s Super Falcons and the French women’s national team, a wave of dissatisfaction has swept through the football community. Fans are particularly dismayed by the absence of prominent players Asisat Oshoala and Deborah Abiodun from the squad announced by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the match scheduled on November 30, 2024.
The 20-player roster, revealed on Sunday, features a blend of talent, comprising five home-based players and 15 professionals playing abroad. Among the notable inclusions is Ashleigh Plumptre, who returns to the squad after a six-month recovery from injury. However, the decision to leave out key figures like Oshoala and Abiodun has ignited a spirited debate among supporters on social media, particularly on the platform X (formerly Twitter).
Fans took to social media to voice their frustrations and seek explanations for the omissions. Augustine, a user identified as @AustinL71449, expressed his disappointment, stating, “Now I see the reason why the squad list was delayed. Seems like a lot of players were unavailable from their clubs. This list is too weak, especially in the forward and defence positions. I was expecting to see (Esther) Onyenezide, (Deborah) Abiodun, (Sebastian) Flourish, (Chinwendu) Ihezuo, and (Esther) Ajakaye.”
Ayo Dawson, another passionate supporter, directly questioned the absence of Barcelona striker Asisat Oshoala, known for her exceptional goal-scoring abilities, by asking, “Where’s Agba Baller?” Similarly, Adejoke, using the handle @Jhokzy, pointedly inquired, “Where’s Deborah Abiodun?”
The conversation continued with fans expressing their bewilderment at the choices made by the coaching staff. JE, a user with the handle @Jval222, asked, “Where is Ajibade and Oshoala, even Deborah I can’t see, or am I not seeing well?” His Majesty @TalmudicSage further listed other notable absentees, including Rasheedat Ajibade and Halimatu Ayinde, highlighting the growing concern over the squad’s depth and strength.
While some supporters were more understanding, they still conveyed their disappointment. Gotti22, known as @9jaRealist, speculated on the reasons behind Abiodun’s absence, suggesting, “On the presumption that Deborah Abiodun is unavailable for this game (and Edo Queens players are being given a rest), it’s a decent-ish list. Good luck, ladies.” Others, like Bonaeffective @walexywalexy, kept their messages concise, simply asking, “Where is Deborah????”
The upcoming friendly against the French team, referred to as Les Bleues, is seen as a crucial preparatory match for the Super Falcons as they gear up for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to take place in Morocco next summer. The match is set for 9:30 PM local time at Stade Raymond Kopa in Angers and serves as an opportunity for Coach Justin Madugu to evaluate and rebuild the team ahead of the tournament, where Nigeria will face tough opponents, including Tunisia, Algeria, and Botswana.
However, the absence of captain Rasheedat Ajibade due to injury, alongside the notable exclusions of Oshoala and Abiodun, has led fans to question the strength and competitiveness of Nigeria’s squad against a formidable French side, currently ranked 10th in the world, compared to Nigeria’s 36th position.
Coach Madugu faces the tough task of ensuring that the players available can rise to the occasion and perform admirably against one of Europe’s strongest teams. As the match approaches, fans continue to seek clarity regarding the absence of their favorite players, adding to the anticipation surrounding the Super Falcons’ performance and future endeavors.
