At the Imo State Governor's lodge, three days after the final in Rabat, Hope Uzodimma posed with the Super Falcons from his state. Chiamaka Nnadozie was there. So were Jennifer Echegini, Osinachi Ohale, Oluchi Oluehi, Chinwendu Ihezuo and Anna Imo, while Michelle Alozie, the seventh, had already flown back to the United States.
| Squad named | 29 September 2026, 28 players |
| Interim coach | Augustine Eguavoen |
| Opponents | Comoros, 2028 Olympic qualifier |
| Dates and venue | 9 and 13 October, Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne-Remo |
| State on public record | 9 of 28 players |
| Most represented | Imo (3), Abia (3) |
Nigeria had come from two goals down to beat hosts Morocco 3-2 on 26 July 2025. A tenth African title. Then came the receptions, as governors claimed their own one state at a time, so that the map of where Africa's champions come from was drawn not by the NFF but by Government Houses.
Fourteen months on, the mood is different.
The Falcons fell 1-0 to Cameroon in the WAFCON 2026 quarter-finals and lost a World Cup play-off 2-1 to South Africa on 13 August. Days later the NFF relieved Justine Madugu and his crew of their duties, and on 29 September the interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen, named 28 players for the Olympic qualifier against Comoros. That is the squad we map below. For the men, see our guide to Super Eagles players and their state of origin.
The squad, player by player
A state appears here only when a governor, a newspaper or a published biography says so. Otherwise we write “not confirmed” rather than guess from a surname.
| Player | Position | Club | State of origin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chiamaka Nnadozie | Goalkeeper | Brighton & Hove Albion (England) | Imo |
| Comfort Erhabor | Goalkeeper | Crystal Palace (England) | Not confirmed |
| Christiana Uzoma | Goalkeeper | Edo Queens | Not confirmed |
| Michelle Alozie | Defender | Chicago Stars (USA) | Imo |
| Shukurat Oladipo | Defender | AS Roma (Italy) | Not confirmed |
| Farida Abdulwahab | Defender | Nasarawa Amazons | Not confirmed |
| Glory Ogbonna | Defender | Besiktas (Turkey) | Abia |
| Oluwatosin Demehin | Defender | Benfica (Portugal) | Ondo |
| Glory Edet | Defender | Bayelsa Queens | Not confirmed |
| Ashleigh Plumptre | Defender | Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia) | Not confirmed |
| Tumininu Adeshina | Defender | Edo Queens | Not confirmed |
| Christy Ucheibe | Midfielder | Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) | Abia |
| Joy Igbokwe | Midfielder | Nasarawa Amazons | Not confirmed |
| Favour Nkwocha | Midfielder | FC Robo Queens | Not confirmed |
| Fatimoh Solaty | Midfielder | Nasarawa Amazons | Not confirmed |
| Suliat Abideen | Midfielder | Fenerbahce (Turkey) | Not confirmed |
| Toni Payne | Midfielder | Inter Milan (Italy) | Not confirmed |
| Jennifer Echegini | Midfielder | Paris Saint-Germain (France) | Imo |
| Rasheedat Ajibade | Forward | Paris Saint-Germain (France) | Osun |
| Asisat Oshoala | Forward | Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) | Lagos (Ikorodu) |
| Flourish Sabastine | Forward | Benfica (Portugal) | Not confirmed |
| Shakirat Moshood | Forward | Torreense (Portugal) | Not confirmed |
| Gift Monday | Forward | Washington Spirit (USA) | Not confirmed |
| Joy Omewa | Forward | BK Hacken (Sweden) | Not confirmed |
| Blessing Nkor | Forward | Dynamo Brest (Belarus) | Not confirmed |
| Oluwakemi Adegbuyi | Forward | Edo Queens | Not confirmed |
| Janet Akekoromowei | Forward | Benfica (Portugal) | Not confirmed |
| Uchenna Kanu | Forward | Cruz Azul (Mexico) | Abia |
Clubs are as the NFF listed them. One exception: Comfort Erhabor moved from Portsmouth to Crystal Palace in September.
South-East: Imo and Abia
That reception explains the Imo entries. “It was particularly moving to witness the outstanding contributions of Imo State daughters, whose talent and dedication were in full display,” the governor wrote. Nnadozie was born in Orlu. Alozie, raised in California, is the daughter of Nigerian parents from Imo State, while Echegini was born in the Netherlands.
Abia's claim is older. After the 2023 World Cup, Governor Alex Otti said he had received “our Super Falcons players from Abia State”, naming Uchenna Kanu, Esther Okoronkwo, Christy Ucheibe and Glory Ogbonna. Three made this squad.
South-West: Osun, Ondo and Lagos
Ademola Adeleke's message in 2023 left no doubt: “This morning I received Osun State-born Nigeria Super Falcons players, Rasheedat Ajibade and Rofiat Imuran.” There is a wrinkle. A 2022 Legit.ng profile gives the captain's state of origin as Kaduna. We follow the governor. Her club story is in our Rasheedat Ajibade biography.
Oshoala comes from Ikorodu in Lagos State. More in our Asisat Oshoala biography.
Ondo has Demehin.
In August 2025 Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa received her at Government House in Akure and rewarded her with cash and a house. The Oba of Bariga later made her “Yeye Akeweje Ilaje”.
The clubs that made them
We found no published South-South or northern state of origin for anyone on this list. Look at the clubs, though, and the picture flips, because Rivers Angels in Port Harcourt shaped Nnadozie, Oshoala and Demehin long before any of them wore the green and white of Nigeria. Gift Monday drove Bayelsa Queens to the 2021-22 title as top scorer. Edo Queens supply three invitees. They won the WAFU B title in September. Further north, Nasarawa Amazons in Lafia send three players to camp. Their coach is now Eguavoen's assistant. Our list of female football clubs in Nigeria covers the rest of the NWFL.
Our view
At least five of the 28 were born abroad, among them Toni Payne in Alabama and Ashleigh Plumptre in Leicester. For them the state question often goes unanswered in public. That is their business.
What the map shows is a team claimed loudly by the South-East and South-West when it wins, and built quietly by clubs in Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Benin City, Lafia and Lokoja whatever the result, which is the part of the story governors rarely photograph.
This article was most recently revised and updated 3 days ago
