Super Falcons camp bubbles as Ordega, 14 players settle down in Houston

Super Falcons Head Coach, Randy Waldrum was all smiles following the arrival Tuesday of no fewer than 15 players at team’s Marriot Marquis in Houston, Texas, just as more arrivals are expected in camp today.

Sportsrevelation can authoritatively report that the nine home-based players joined six diaspora players who had earlier arrived in Houston for the mandatory Covid-19 Test at the hotel before the 15 players, backroom staff and members of the delegation were checked into their rooms. They are to remain in their rooms until their results are out in accordance with Covid-19 protocol as directed by the organisers of the Summer Series which holds from June 10 to 16.

Already on ground before the Nigerian delegation arrived Houston from Lagos via Atlanta, Georgia, were Co-captain Francisca Ordega who plays club football in Spain but who had a valid United States entry visa and five new overseas-born invitees.

They are Swiss-born defender, Onyinyechi Zogg ; Finnish-Nigerian striker Roosa Ariyo and Ifeoma Onumonu, striker of Gotham, an NWSL clubside, who represented USWNT U23 at some point but is still eligible to play for Nigeria through her parents.

Others in camp are Nicole Payne, American-born West Virginia University defender and the younger sister of recently capped Nigeria striker, Toni Payne and Yewande Balogun, former Maryland Terrapin goalkeeper and who is in her third season as UC Davis Assistant Coach. She is eligible to represent Nigeria through her father Tajudeen Balogun.

Following the withdrawal of now fewer than six players from the 25  earlier invited for the 4-Nation Tournament tagged  Summer Series in Texas, Super Falcons gaffer has no choice but to  hand maiden Nigeria call-up to the above five players.