The Super Falcons start their road to Los Angeles 2028 this evening. Comoros visit the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo for a 6pm kick-off, and Augustine Eguavoen goes into the first leg without Asisat Oshoala, Ashleigh Plumptre, Oluwatosin Demehin and Flourish Sabastine.
| Fixture | Nigeria vs Comoros, 2028 Olympic qualifier, second round, first leg |
| Kick-off | Friday 9 October, 6pm, Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne-Remo |
| Return leg | Tuesday 13 October, same venue |
| Referee | Henriette Byukusenge (Rwanda) |
| Absent | Oshoala, Plumptre, Demehin, Sabastine |
| Next round | DR Congo or Morocco, 23 February to 6 March 2027 |
A home tie twice over
Comoros were meant to stage the opening leg. They have no CAF-approved venue for international matches. So both games moved to Ogun State, and the islanders have been based around Ikenne since their delegation landed on Monday night. Nigeria skipped the first round. As one of the three highest-ranked sides in the competition, the Falcons got a bye. Comoros did not. They came through against Sudan with a scoreline that turned heads across the continent: 17-0 in the first leg and 13-0 in the second, a 30-0 aggregate under coach Youssouf Abdallah.
That says more about Sudan than about Comoros. Still, thirty goals.
The warning is there anyway.
Nobody in the camp is taking the visitors lightly, though. Eguavoen took interim charge after the NFF sacked Justine Madugu. He and captain Rasheedat Ajibade faced the media at 4.30pm on Thursday, before the final session at the stadium.
Eguavoen on the withdrawals
Four big names. Oshoala, Plumptre and Demehin all pulled out late. Sabastine is missing too, and Belarus-based forward Blessing Okpe was the one late invitee still expected in camp in midweek, which leaves Eguavoen leaning on players who have had only a few days together under a coach who is himself new to the women's game at this level.
“It is true that we have a number of withdrawals, notably Asisat Oshoala, Ashley Plumptre and Oluwatosin Demehin,” Eguavoen told NFF media. “However, I have confidence in their replacements, as these players also have the quality and experience.”
Upbeat, too. He sounded calm. “Everyone has settled in well in camp as we have a full house now,” the coach said, after Ajibade, Michelle Alozie, Christy Ucheibe, Toni Payne, Jennifer Echegini, Folashade Ijamilusi and Janet Akekoromowei arrived to take the squad to 21 players.
What is at stake for the Falcons
A win on aggregate sends Nigeria into the third round of the five-round African series. DR Congo or Morocco would be waiting. Then the stakes rise. That tie is set for the window between 23 February and 6 March 2027, and it keeps alive the hope of a second successive Olympic Games after the return to the stage at Paris 2024. CAF has handed tonight to a Rwandan crew. Byukusenge is in the middle, with Sandrine Murangwa and Regine Mukayiranga on the flags and Aline Umutoni as fourth official. Burkina Faso's Oumou Sy is the match commissioner.
For Eguavoen, whose career we traced in our profile of the Super Falcons coach, this is a first competitive test with the women. The bar is clear. The crowd in Ikenne will expect a healthy lead to take into Tuesday, missing names or not, from a camp that filled up earlier this week.
Ajibade will carry much of the attacking load. Kick-off is at six.
This article was most recently revised and updated 5 hours ago
