Ashley Plumptre has been included in the 28-player Nigeria squad for the Super Falcons’ second-round Olympic qualifying tie against Comoros as the country begins its bid to reach Los Angeles 2028.
Interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen has also selected captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, Michelle Alozie and a number of established internationals, including Asisat Oshoala, Toni Payne, Christy Ucheibe, Jennifer Echegini, Uchenna Kanu and Gift Monday.
The squad combines experienced players with several younger members being given the opportunity to establish themselves in the senior national team.
Nnadozie, who plays for Brighton Hove & Albion, is joined among the goalkeepers by Comfort Erhabor of Portsmouth Ladies and Christiana Uzoma of Edo Queens.
The defenders are Alozie, Shukurat Oladipo, Farida Abdulwahab, Glory Ogbonna, Oluwatosin Demehin, Glory Edet, Plumptre and Tumininu Adeshina.
Ucheibe, Joy Igbokwe, Favour Nkwocha, Fatimoh Solaty, Suliat Abideen, Payne and Echegini make up the midfield options.
The forwards selected are Ajibade, Oshoala, Flourish Sabastine, Shakirat Moshood, Monday, Joy Omewa, Blessing Nkor, Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, Janet Akekoromowei and Kanu.
Uzoma, Abdulwahab, Adeshina, Nkwocha, Moshood and Adegbuyi are among the younger players included in the group.
Nigeria will play Comoros over two legs, with the first match scheduled for Friday, October 9. Comoros are officially the home side, but the game will be held at Remo Stars Sports Stadium in Ikenne-Remo because the country does not have a CAF-approved venue for international matches.
The return fixture will take place at the same stadium on Tuesday, October 13, with Nigeria listed as the hosts.
Players have been instructed to report to the AM2PM Hotel in Ijebu-Ode on Saturday, October 3, when preparations for the two matches will begin.
Nigeria must win the tie on aggregate to advance to the third round of the five-fixture Olympic qualifying campaign, which is scheduled to run through December next year.
The Super Falcons missed out on the Paris 2024 Games, meaning qualification would secure their return to the Olympic women’s football tournament.
Full Nigeria squad
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton Hove & Albion, England), Comfort Erhabor (Portsmouth Ladies, England), Christiana Uzoma (Edo Queens).
Defenders: Michelle Alozie (Chicago Stars, USA), Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma, Italy), Farida Abdulwahab (Nasarawa Amazons), Glory Ogbonna (Besiktas JK, Turkey), Oluwatosin Demehin (SL Benfica, Portugal), Glory Edet (Bayelsa Queens), Ashley Plumptre (Al-Ittihad Ladies, Saudi Arabia), Tumininu Adeshina (Edo Queens).
Midfielders: Christy Ucheibe (Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia), Joy Igbokwe (Nasarawa Amazons), Favour Nkwocha (FC Robo Queens), Fatimoh Solaty (Nasarawa Amazons), Suliat Abideen (Fenerbahce Ladies, Turkey), Toni Payne (Inter Milan, Italy), Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint Germain, France).
Forwards: Rasheedat Ajibade (Paris Saint Germain, France), Asisat Oshoala (Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia), Flourish Sabastine (SL Benfica, Portugal), Shakirat Moshood (SCU Torreense, Portugal), Gift Monday (Washington Spirit, USA), Joy Omewa (BK Hacken, Sweden), Blessing Nkor (Dynamo Brest, Belarus), Oluwakemi Adegbuyi (Edo Queens), Janet Akekoromowei (SL Benfica, Portugal), Uchenna Kanu (Cruz Azul Femenil, Mexico).
The first whistle in Ikenne will begin Nigeria’s latest attempt to reach the Olympic Games, with Comoros standing between the Super Falcons and the next round.