Nigeria women's national football team coach, Thomas Dennerby has explained why Rivers Angels star Evelyn Nwabuoku has been left out of the 48-woman provisional roster announced on Wednesday ahead of the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations.

29 home-based players and 19 foreign-based professionals have been called up, as the team seek a record extending eleventh African title.

While the likes of Asisat Oshoala, Desire Oparanozie, Ngozi Okobi and Francisca Ordega made the cut, 2014 AWCON-Winning captain Nwabuoku was omitted and Dennerby admitted that it was a tough decision.

''She (Nwabuoku) was in the camp before we played Gambia in the qualification game, she is a really good player with good touches on the ball. She had a little bit lack of fitness.

''It's a tough situation, finally we had to pick the squad with the best players to follow the roster we kept for the team.''

Responding to a question on how he selected the 48 players, the Super Falcons manager said that he wanted the team to be built around speedy players in attack and defense.

''First of all, you have to be in good form as usual, you have to have players with good performances.

''The assistant coaches and I looked for players who know how to play attacking and defensive football.

''We like to play quick football, we are trying to find quick and good players so we know we have a speedy team,'' Dennerby added.

The 2018 Africa Women Africa Cup of Nations will be staged in the Ghanaian cities of Accra and Cape Coast, 17th November – 1st December 2018.

 Goalkeepers: Tochukwu Oluehi (Rivers Angels); Christy Ohiaeriaku (Confluence Queens); Alaba Jonathan (Bayelsa Queens); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Rivers Angels); Onyinyechukwu Okeke (Edo Queens)

Defenders: Glory Ogbonna (Ibom Angels); Joy Jegede (Bayelsa Queens); Ugochi Emenayo (Nasarawa Amazons); Maureen Okpala (Confluence Queens); Mariam Ibrahim (Nasarawa Amazons); Sarah Nnodim (Nasarawa Amazons); Ngozi Ebere (Barcelona FC, Cyprus); Joy Duru (Nasarawa Amazons); Faith Michael (Pitea IF, Sweden); Onome Ebi (Henan Huisanhang, China); Juliet Lorliam (Nasarawa Amazons); Osinachi Ohale (Vaxjo DFF, Sweden); Josephine Chukwunonye (Asarum AIF, Sweden)

Midfielders: Osarenoma Igbinovia (Bayelsa Queens); Christy Ucheibe (Nasarawa Amazons); Amarachi Okoronkwo (Nasarawa Amazons); Ogechi Ukwuoma (Pelican Stars); Peace Efih (Edo Queens); Bashirat Amoo (Confluence Queens); Goodness Onyebuchi (Sunshine Queens); Nneka Julius (Edo Queens); Patience Agbokade (Sunshine Queens); Mary Anjor (Osun Babes); Ngozi Okobi (Eskiltuna UTD, Sweden); Rita Chikwelu (Krstianstand DFF, Sweden); Christy Adule (Biik Kazygurt, Kazakhstan); Halimat Ayinde (Asarum AIF, Sweden); Ogonna Chukwudi (Krstianstand DFF, Sweden)

Forwards: Chidinma Okeke (FC Robo Queens); Anam Imo (Nasarawa Amazons); Alice Ogebe (Rivers Angels); Joy Jerry (Bayelsa Queens); Chioma Wogu (Rivers Angels); Rasheedat Ajibade (FC Robo Queens); Asisat Oshoala (Dalian Quanjian, China); Francisca Ordega (Washington Spirit, USA); Desire Oparanozie (En Avant Guingamp, France); Chinaza Uchendu (SC Braga, Portugal); Ebere Orji (Mallbackens Lysvik, Sweden); Esther Sunday (Konak Belediyespor); Uchechi Sunday; Courtney Dike (Oklahoma City, USA); Chinwendu Ihezuo (Biik Kazygurt, Kazakhstan).

Ifeanyi Emmanuel