By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No.1 Women’s Football Journalist
Plotting against opponents. ..Super Falcons Desire Oparanozie and Chidinma Okeke giving encouragement to Goalie Chiamaka Nnadozie at last FIFA Women’s World Cup final in France in 2019.
With all but one home-based player yet to obtain entry visa to the United States of America (USA) at the close of work on Friday, other lucky players and backroom staff of the Super Falcons will depart the country for Texas Monday for the 4-Nation Invitational Tournament featuring host USA, Nigeria, Portugal and Jamaica.
Sportsrevelation exclusively gathered that nine players out of 10 invited by Super Falcons Head Coach, Randy Waldrum from the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) have been issued entry visas by the US Embassy and will on Monday leave Nigeria via Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
The lone visa applicant who is likely to get her travelling documents on Monday will join the rest in America on Tuesday.
Waldrum had included 10 home-based players in his list of 24 players invited for the US tournament tagged Summer Series.
Eyes on the Ball. ..Edo Queens defender, Glory O gbonna go head to head with Ghana Black Queens forward in WAFU Women’s Championship in 2019.
Among the lucky players are Edo Queens reliable defender, Glory Akumbu Ogbonna; Abia Angels safe-hands, Inyene Etim and Rivers Angels attacker,
Vivian Ikechukwu as well as Sunshine Queens duo, Esther Ogbonna and Oluwatosin Dimehin.
Others heading to America are Abidemi Ibe,
Amanda Mbadi, Celine Ottah and
Joy Bokiri, all from Bayelsa Queens and Gift Monday of FC Robo Queens, Lagos.
Meanwhile, two overseas-based players, defender Patricia George of German side, Sands FC and Eskilstuna United midfielder, Halimatu Ayinde who pulled out of the tournament because of injuries have been replaced by Waldrum.
Road Block…Super Falcons New invitee/Swiss-born, Onyinyechi Zogg blocks her opponent during a recent league match.
The American-born gaffer has in their places invited two diaspora players- Swiss-born Nigerian defender, Onyinyechi Zogg (24), who plays for Switzerland Women’s Super League club, FC Zurich and Finnish-born Nigerian Roosa Funmilayo Ariyo (26), a striker with Finnish
Naisten Liiga side, TiPS. Both are eligible to represent Nigeria through their parents.
Nigeria plays the first match in the competition against Jamaica at BBVA Stadium in Houston on June 10. The second will be with Portugal three days later at the same venue while the last epic encounter with Team USA is billed for the brand new Q2 Stadium in Austin on June 16.
Related
Sports Revelation Online ..breaking authenic sports reports