Former England youth international Omorinsola Babajide completes switch to Nigeria

FORMER England youth international Omorinsola Babajide has become the latest player to complete a Fifa switch to Nigeria and has subsequently been invited to the Super Falcons camp ahead of their forthcoming Olympic qualifiers against Ethiopia.

Fresh from an exciting World Cup where they dazzled and were unfortunate to get knocked out on penalties buy finalists England, the Falcons will be hopeful of picking up a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.  They quest to qualify for the tournament begins with an away game in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, October 25, with the second leg taking place in Nigeria on Tuesday October 31.

Striker Babajide who currently plays in Spain with UG Tenerife, is one of the 22 players invited by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the qualification fixture. Babajide, 25, had previously represented England at Under 21 level, before declaring her interest in representing Nigeria at senior level.

She becomes the latest England’s youth international to switch allegiance following in the footsteps of defender Ashleigh Plumptre. Born in London in 1998 to Nigerian parents, Babajide first caught the eye in 2016 after scoring 14 goals for the University of East London women's team in a friendly match against the University College London football team that ended 40-0.

In January 2015, she transferred from Crystal Palace Ladies to Millwall Lionesses Ladies and then completed a transfer to Watford Ladies in February 2017. She then joined Liverpool in January 2018 and was their second-leading goal scorer during the 2018/19 season.

After leaving Liverpool, Babajide headed to Spain where she signed for Real Betis, where she spent 18 months. Babajide left Betis for her current club Grandilla Tenerife, with whom she signed a two-year contract.

She will be hoping to see some action in the forthcoming games against Ethiopia. Surprisingly, Plumptre has been left out of the squad, as has anchorwoman Deborah Abiodun, despite both of them giving great accounts of themselves at the World Cup.

Full squad

Goalkeepers:

Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Monle Oyono (Bayelsa Queens)

Defenders:

Osinachi Ohale (Pachuca FC, Mexico); Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Nicole Payne (Paris Saint Germain, France); Jumoke Alani (Edo Queens); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France)

Midfielders:

Halimatu Ayinde (Rosengard FC, Sweden); Peace Efih (Sporting Club de Braga, Portugal); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (AS Saint Etienne, France)

Forwards:

Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona Feminine, Spain); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Opeyemi Ajakaye (FC Robo Queens).