By Harry Awurumibe, Editor-in -Chief, Abuja
Give Way. ..Veteran midfielder Rita Chikwelu shields the ball away from Banyana Banyana forward in the 2018 AWCON final in Accra Ghana. Nigeria triumphed via penalty shoot out.
Expectedly, the Head Coach of Nigeria’s senior women’s football team, Randy Waldrum has decamped some home-based players to make room for the armada of foreign-based players ahead of Friday’s crucial Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON)) final qualifier first leg match between Super Falcons and La Elephantes of Cote d’Ivoire at Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
This is even as team captain and FC Barcelona feminine star, Asisat Oshoala and Atlectico Madrid midfielder, Rasheedat Ajibade have already trained with the rest of the players in Abuja.
Prominent amongst players decamped by Waldrum are the only home-based goalkeeper, Christy Ohiaeriaku of Sunshine Queens
and Nasarawa Amazons ace defender, Joy Ndidi Duru; midfielders,
Miracle Joseph and Ayomide Ojo as well as forward Juliet Bassey of Bayelsa Queens.
Prompt News can confirm that Oshoala and Ajibade have linked up with the team and have also trained inside the mainbowl pitch of the refurbished Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja but the likes of attackers, Uchenna Kanu of Tigres Femenil, Mexico and Desire Oparanozie of Dejion FC, France have not shown up in the camp as at the time of this report.
Also, not in camp before the Tuesday morning training session at the stadium are winger Francisca Ordega of CSKA Mosco, Russia and veteran defender Osinachi Marvis Ohale of Diportivo Alaves, Spain.
Although these players have not arrived as at the time of this report, there are indications that the coach has them in his plans, the reason he has dropped five on Monday night and looks set to decamp more home-based players to arrive at the approved 25 players who will prosecute the two-legged encounter against La Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire.
This is Rash….Attacking midfielder Rasheedat Ajibade has been in excellent form recently. She may be Super Falcons saviour on Friday.
The 25 players who trained under the watchful eyes of Waldrum and his assistants on Tuesday morning are: Chiamaka Nnadozie, Toochukwu Oluehi, Yewande Balogun, Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade, Toni Payne, Rita Chikwelu, Ifeoma Onumonu, Michelle Alozie and Ngozi Okobi.
Others: Onome Ebi, Esther Okoronkwo, Yetunde Aliko, Peace Effih, Tosin Dimehin, Rofiat Imuran, Regina Otu, Nicole Payne, Vivian Ikechukwu, Amanda Mbadinuju, Gift Monday, Amarachi Okoronkwo, Grace Igboamalu and Akudo O gbonna.
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