Ahead France 2019: Dennerby picks Oparanozie, Oshoala, 25 others for World Cup final camp

Harry Awurumibe,  Abuja:

 Super Falcons Head Coach, Thomas Dennerby has pencilled down 27 names including some of the known faces in the women’s senior football team like captain Desire Oparanozie and forward Asisat Oshoala for the pre-World Cup final camp in Austria starting next  week. The  8^th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals taking place in France wI’ll hold from  June  7 to  July 7, 2019.

 According to a release put out by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Abuja today, Goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi, defenders Josephine Chukwunonye, Osinachi Ohale and Ngozi Ebere, midfielders Rita Chikwelu and Halimatu Ayinde and forwards Asisat Oshoala and Francisca Ordega, who all played key roles in the Super Falcons’ ninth continental triumph in Ghana late last year, are also included.

 Dennerby has also picked Uchenna Kanu, who has shown tremendous firepower at the ongoing WAFU Women’s Cup in Abidjan with eight goals in two matches, as well as home –based professionals Amarachi Okoronkwo, Evelyn Nwabuoku, Chidinma Okeke and Chiamaka Nnadozie.

 Nigeria’s final list of 23 players for the 8^th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals will emerge from this group of 27, with four players to be cut towards the end of the two-week camping in Austria.

 NFF’s Head of Women Football, Ruth David revealed on Monday that the African champions will depart from Abuja for Austria on Monday,  May 20 for the Avita Resort in Bad Tatzmannsdorf – the same facility where the Super Eagles had their final camping programme just before the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

 The Super Falcons will depart from Austria on  June 4 direct to Reims, where they open their World Cup campaign against Norway on 8^th June.

THE 27 SUPER FALCONS FOR  AUSTRIA WORLD CUP FINAL CAMP:

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

 Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Vaxjo DFF, Sweden); Ngozi Ebere (Arna Bjornar, Norway); Onome Ebi (Henan Huisanhang, China); Josephine Chukwunonye (Kungsbacka DFF, Sweden); Faith Michael (Pitea IF, Sweden); Chidinma Okeke (FC Robo)

 Midfielders: Cecilia Nku (Ferencvaros Torna, Hungary); Rita Chikwelu (Krstianstand DFF, Sweden); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (Eskiltuna United, Sweden); Evelyn Nwabuoku (Rivers Angels); Ogonna Chukwudi (Djurgardens IF, Sweden); Halimatu Ayinde (Eskiltuna United, Sweden); Amarachi Okoronkwo (Nasarawa Amazons)

 Forwards: Desire Oparanozie (En Avant Guingamp, France); Anam Imo (Malmo FC Rosengard, Sweden); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain); Chinaza Uchendu (SC Braga, Portugal); Uchenna Kanu (Southeastern University, USA); Rasheedat Ajibade (Alvadsnes IL, Norway); Francisca Ordega (Shanghai W. FC); Ini-Abasi Umotong (Brighton Hove & Albion, England); Alice Ogebe (Rivers Angels)