Gabriel Zabo has pre-selected a list of 25 players in view of the Indomitable Lionesses World Cup playoffs match-ups in February.
Amazone FAP dominates the list with 7 players, followed by Eclair FF with 6 players on board. Zabo gave a shout to two players plying abroad.
List of players;
Goalkeepers;
Ange Bawou ( Bayelsa Queens)
Biya Cathy (Eclair FF)
Ongmahan Marthe (Lekie FF)
Defenders
Doudou Ousmanou (FC Yverdon FC)
Moumazim Michelle (Lekie FF)
Koesso Jeanne (AWA FC)
Ngaseh Mbelle (Eclair FF)
Mbengono Catherine (Fortuna FF)
Fanta Florence (Eclair FF)
Ngono Marie Victoire (Eclair FF)
Wanki Rita (Amazone FAP)
Bakendj Reine (Amazone FAP)
Midfeilders
Tcanko Diane (Amazone FAP)
Naomie Leslie (Amazone FAP)
Eto Naomi Leslie (Amazone FAP)
Omboudou Brigitte (FC Ebolowa)
Mbomozomo Brigitte Yvana (Amazone FAP)
Raihana Moussa (Vision Foot Academy)
Tim Shalom (Authentic Ladies)
Forwards
Kevin Ossol (Eclair FF)
Ngah Manga (Lekie FF)
Nkamo Yoga (Apulia Trina 80)
Mbuh Confidence (Amazone FAP)
Tabe Brenda (Lekie FF)
Bibout Eliane (Eclair FF)
Aboudi Blandine (Eclair FF)
Last season’s Nigerian women’s premier division winner Ange Bawou leads the goalkeeping sector. She was first choice in the Women’s AFCON last year. Bawou will compete for the number 1 position against experienced 2019 World Cup campaigner, Ongmahan Marthe, with young Cathy Biya of Eclair FF following down the perking order.
Coach Gabriel Zabo has included a new comer: Doudou Ousmanou in the defense where there is enough experience.
Multiple Cameroon women’s premier division winner and erstwhile Amazon FAP player Mbengono Catherine makes the cut. She is accompanied by 2019 Nigerian Premier league nominee for player of the year, Reine Bakendj, amid others.
There’s the addition of Eto Naomi in the mid. She has been in the corridors of the selections and gets another nod by Zabo. 30-year-old Brigitte Omboudou, now of Ebolowa FC, headlines the midfield.
There has been loads of talks of Brenda Tabe and her record – breaking transfer from AWA to Lekie last year, but there is this feeling of urgency for her to make a breakthrough with the Indomitable Lionesses.
Brenda is accompanied by a 2020 stand-out Women’s AFCON performer in Kevin Ossol.
Ngah Manga is equally gifted a chance after she returned to Lekie from Azerbaijan. Other names worth the note up top are EX Caiman forward Bibout Eliane and Aboudi Blandine. One of only two players plying abroad on this list is Nkamo Yoga of Apulia Trina in Italy.
Captain Aboudi Onguene, Ajara, Awono and other regulars will join the group in the latter stages.
The Lionesses will face Thailand for the right to play top seeds Portugal in the Group A final for a chance to reach the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
The final three qualifiers for the expanded 32-team finals, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand, will be decided in Auckland and Hamilton from 18-23 February next year.
By Brian Mboh