2023 FIFA WWC: Ngozi Okobi finally misses out as FIFA Players’ Registration Postal closes

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

The dream of Super Falcons veteran attacking  midfielder, Ngozi Okobi-Okogene to play in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final in Australia and New Zealand has finally evaporated like early morning dew as the portal for the registration of players for the biggest women’s football competition in the world closes by 12 midnight on Monday.

Promptnews can confirm that the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup players registration portal which enables Member Associations to register the players for the football fiesta will close finally by 12 midnight on Monday.

Interestingly, Okobi-Okogene who provided the pass which enabled Rasheedat Ajibade to score the lone goal against Cameroon which secured  Nigeria the World Cup ticket in the last Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, will not be part of Nigeria’s team in Australia and New Zealand.

Investigation has revealed that Falcons Head Coach Randy Waldrum who submitted Nigeria’s final list of 23 players a month ago, has remaind adamant to effect any change in his earlier list submitted to the FIFA portal.

According to a source close to NFF, Waldrum has refused to consider Okobi-Okogene even when is aware  that both Halimat Ayinde and Rasheedat Ajibade who got red card in the last WAFCON semi final match against Morocco will not feature in Nigeria’s first round  tie against Canada.

“The federation is pained that FIFA registration portal will close by midnight today  (Monday) but Nigeria will not make any changes in the earlier list of players Coach Randy Waldrum submitted to FIFA. Ngozi Okobi would have been a good addition but the coach has remained adamant”, the source who pleaded anonymity said in Abuja today.