Defender Ashleigh Plumptre is back in the Super Falcons squad after an injury absence of more than six months, with interim coach Augustine Eguavoen also promoting a group of Nigeria's leading youth internationals for next month's 2028 Olympic qualifying tie against Comoros.
Plumptre, who has not played for Nigeria since suffering a foot injury while with Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad in March, was named on Tuesday in Eguavoen's 28-player squad for the two-legged qualifier. The injury kept the defender out of the Nigeria's Women's Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Morocco.
Her return gives Eguavoen another experienced option in a defense undergoing some change following the international retirement of Osinachi Ohale, while several players who have been moving through Nigeria's youth teams have been given an opportunity at senior level.
Goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma, defenders Farida Abdulwahab and Tumininu Adeshina, midfielder Favour Nkwocha and forward Janet Akekoromowei are among those called up after recent involvement with the Under-20 team.
Uzoma, Adeshina, Nkwocha and Akekoromowei were part of Nigeria's squad at this month's FIFA Under-20 Women's World Cup in Poland. All four featured in the 3-0 round-of-16 victory over England, with Akekoromowei scoring Nigeria's second goal.
Abdulwahab had also been selected for the original World Cup squad before visa issues prevented her from traveling and she was replaced.
Uzoma, Abdulwahab, Shakirat Moshood and Akekoromowei were also previously part of Nigeria's under-17 setup, with Moshood scoring four goals for the Flamingos at the 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup.
Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, another young forward, is also included in the senior squad.
Eguavoen has retained an experienced core around them, including captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, Michelle Alozie, Oluwatosin Demehin, Christy Ucheibe, Jennifer Echegini, Toni Payne, Asisat Oshoala, Gift Monday and Uchenna Kanu.
One notable absentee is Esther Okoronkwo. The AFC Toronto forward is out for the season because of injury. Toronto coach Marko Milanovic said earlier this month that the club did not expect Okoronkwo to return this season.
Okoronkwo's absence removes an established attacking option.
Ohale, meanwhile, announced her international retirement last week after 16 years with the Super Falcons. The defender finished her Nigeria career with 86 appearances, four World Cup appearances and five Women's Africa Cup of Nations titles.
"After 16 years of wearing the Nigeria jersey, representing my country and giving everything I had for this beautiful sport, I have made the very difficult decision to retire from international football," Ohale said..
The changes leave Plumptre, Demehin, Alozie and Shukurat Oladipo as the most established international defenders in Eguavoen's first squad since he was placed in temporary charge of the Super Falcons.
The Nigeria Football Federation appointed Eguavoen earlier this month to oversee the Comoros qualifiers while it continues its search for a permanent head coach. He will be assisted by Nasarawa Amazons coach Christopher Danjuma, and former Super Falcons defender Asisat Yusuf, with Olatunji Baruwa serving as goalkeeper coach.
Nigeria enter the African Olympic qualifying competition at this stage as one of the continent's three highest-ranked teams, alongside South Africa and Ghana. Comoros had to negotiate the opening round and did so emphatically, beating Sudan 30-0 on aggregate, including a 13-0 victory in the second leg.
The first leg against Comoros is scheduled for October 9, with the return four days later. Both games will be played at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Nigeria. because Comoros do not have a CAF-approved venue for international matches.
Nigeria are attempting to qualify for consecutive Olympic tournaments after ending a 16-year absence by reaching Paris 2024. They qualified for those Games by beating South Africa 1-0 on aggregate, but lost all three group matches against Brazil, Spain and Japan.
The road to Los Angeles consists of five home-and-away knockout rounds, with only two of the final four teams earning Africa's places at the 2028 Olympics. The qualifying competition is scheduled to conclude in December 2027.
Super Falcons squad for qualifying fixture vs. Comoros
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); Ashleigh 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).