Nigeria and Canada’s senior women’s teams will face off for the second time in a year on Wednesday in a closed-door training match in Malaga. This match marks the final test for both squads ahead of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in France, which begins in eight days.
The game is set for 6:30 PM Spain time (5:30 PM Nigeria time) at the La Quinta Football Centre in Malaga, concluding the Super Falcons’ training camp in Spain. The teams last met in a hard-fought FIFA Women’s World Cup Group B opener on July 21, 2023, in Melbourne, which ended in a 0-0 draw. Notably, Nigeria’s goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie saved a penalty by veteran Christine Sinclair and made 14 significant saves.
Coach Randy Waldrum is expected to maintain a similar lineup to the one from the World Cup match, although defenders Ashleigh Plumptre and forward Francisca Ordega are absent from the Spain camp. Nnadozie will likely continue in goal, supported by defenders Osinachi Ohale, Oluwatosin Demehin, Michelle Alozie, and possibly Chidinma Okeke. Midfielders Toni Payne, Christy Ucheibe, and Deborah Abiodun are also expected to feature prominently.
The forward line might see changes with captain Rasheedat Ajibade, who missed the previous encounter with Canada due to a red card from the Women’s AFCON semi-final against Morocco in July 2022, joining Uchenna Kanu and Chinwendu Ihezuo.
The Super Falcons, nine-time African champions, will depart for France on Thursday to continue their preparations ahead of their first Olympic match against Brazil at the Stade Bordeaux on July 25. Nigeria will also face Spain on July 28 and Japan on July 31, both at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.
