AWCON 2022: Players still trickling into Falcons camp 48 hours to Black Queens clash

By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No.1 Women’s Football Journalist

On the Ball. ..Team Captain Asisat Oshoala yet to arrive camp Monday afternoon

Less than 48 hours to Nigeria’s Super Falcons and Black Queens of Ghana crucial African Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) first leg qualifier clash  billed for Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 by 4pm, invited players are still trickling into the Lagos camp like snail.

Aside two foreign-based invitees, goalkeeper, Tochukwu Oluehi of Maccabi Kishronot Hadera of Israel and defender, Regina Otu of Minsk FC, Belarus who arrived camp on Sunday alongside the seven home-based players who made the 23-woman team for the AWCON double-header cut, only few arrived before lunch time on Monday.
Those who joined the camp on Monday are France-based Desire Oparanozie and Osinachi Ohale of Deportivo Alaves, Spain to swell the camp to 11 players, thereby hampering the training programme of the technical crew of Falcons. Other key players like Captain Asisat Oshoala and Rasheedat Ajibade as well as first-choice goalie Chiamaka Nnadozie are yet to arrive as at time of this report.
The seven home-based players invited by Super Falcons Head Coach, Randy Waldrum for the Ghana assignment who hit the camp on Sunday as directed by the gaffer are defenders Ayomide Ojo (Edo Queens); Rafiat Imuran (Rivers Angels); Opeyemi Sunday (Edo Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Rivers Angels); Akudo Ogbonna (Edo Queens). Others are midfielder, Goodness Onyebuchi (Edo Queens) and fleetfooted  forward, Vivian Ikechukwu (Rivers Angels) .

Super Falcons celebrating a goal at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan

PromptNews however gathered that some players have indicated that they can only arrive camp on Tuesday ahead of the Wednesday crucial encounter, a situation which may not put the team in good footing for the Nigeria versus Ghana clash.

Meanwhile, the team is expected to have full training Tuesday afternoon at Mobolaji Johnson Arena,  Onikan just as the Ghanaians are also slated to have a  feel of the field on Tuesday evening.
The Ghana delegation is expected to touch down in Lagos from Monday aboard Askay Airlines which will also fly them back to Accra on Thursday ahead of the return leg tie at Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday.
ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:
Goalkeepers: Tochukwu Oluehi (Maccabi Kishronot Hadera, Israel); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Yewande Balogun (California Storm, USA)
Defenders: Onome Ebi (Minsk FC, Belarus); Glory Ogbonna (Umea FC, Sweden); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Ayomide Ojo (Edo Queens); Rafiat Imuran (Rivers Angels); Opeyemi Sunday (Edo Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Rivers Angels); Akudo Ogbonna (Edo Queens)
Midfielders: Rita Chikwelu (Madrid CFF, Spain); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Toni Oyedupe Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (Minsk FC, Belarus); Goodness Onyebuchi (Edo Queens); Joy Bokiri (AIK FC, Sweden)
Forwards: Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain); Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Gift Monday (FC Robo Queens); Uchenna Kanu (Linkopings FC, Sweden); Desire Oparanozie (Dijon FC, France); Vivian Ikechukwu (Rivers Angels).

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