The Nigerian female national football team also known as the Super Falcons is the most dominant football team on the African continent. Since the early 1990s, when the national team was set up the Super Falcons have grown into one of the most competitive teams in the world. Over the years, a lot of extremely talented ladies have represented the country. Today’s list will not be able to contain them all, but these are the best women to have played for the Super Falcons.
1. Mercy Akide Udoh
Nicknamed marvelous Mercy, she was a striker during her time with the Falcons. She made her international debut for Nigeria sometime in the mid-90s. Mercy played for Nigeria at 3 FIFA Women’s World Cups scoring 2 goals in 8 appearances. Akide was also participated in 3 CAF African Women’s Championships (AWCON), winning the trophy on all 3 occasions. Mercy also went on to play for Nigeria at two Olympic games. Akide was awarded the first African Woman footballer of the year by CAF in 2002. She is married to popular Nigerian sports journalist Colin Udoh.
2. Perpetua Nkwocha
She’s arguably the greatest player to have worn the green-white-green for the Super Falcons. A predatory striker of note, Perpetua is believed to have scored 80 goals in 99 appearances for the national team between 1999-2015. Nwkocha played at four World Cups and three Olympic games. She also won 5 AWCONs, finishing top scorer in three of them. Individually she was named CAF Women Footballer of the Year four times. She played her club football in Sweden.
3. Florence Omagbemi
A gifted midfielder, Omagbemi was the first captain of the Super Falcons and represented the country between 1991-2004. Florence led Nigeria to four World Cups and was part of the team that got to the quarterfinals of the 1999 Women’s World Cup in the USA. She has also won four AWCONs as player, and once as a Coach. With that, Florence Omagbemi became the first woman to win the Africa Women Cup of Nations as both a player and coach, a Nigerian football record.
4. Onome Ebi
Onome is a tough tackling no nonsense Super Falcons defender. She holds the record as the only African woman to have played at five different Women’s World Cups from 2003-2019. Ebi has also played at the Olympics that is the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. The 37-year-old also marshaled the defense that won four AWCON titles. Individually Onome was named the Nigerian female footballer in 2018.
5. Asisat Oshoala
The FC Barcelona Femeni striker is one of the best players in the world right now. She has represented Nigeria at two World Cups, scoring twice in 7 matches. She has won 3 AWCON titles and been named CAF Women’s player of the year four times. Asisat has won numerous club trophies in her ongoing career, playing for various clubs in Nigeria, England, China, and Spain.
