By Amosu Adeboye, LAGOS
Super Falcons head Coach Thomas Dennerby has named former Nigeria captain Evelyn Nwabuoku and midfielder Amarachi Okoronkwo in his final squad for the 2019 Women’s WAFU Cup of Nations tournament in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
Dennerby had 26 players in camp to prepare for the tournament which has now been pruned down to 20.
The tournament is billed to hold from from May 8 to 18 2019.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons who finished in third place at the last edition of the competition in 2018, will play in Group B along witj Burkina Faso, Niger Republic and Mali.
Host nation Cote d’Ivoire will tackle Senegal, Togo and Ghana in Group A.
Meanwhile the Super Falcons delegation will fly out of Nigeria on Tuesday aboard an Air Ivoire flight, to arrive Abidjan in the afternoon, according to a report on thenff.com.
Dennerby stated last week that the WAFU Women’s Cup Tournament was important for the home-based professionals, as it would determine the number of them that will be included in his list for the final training camp at the Avita Resort in Bad Tatzmannsdorf, Austria ahead of the 8th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals taking place 7th June to 7th July in France.
The Falcons will take on the Senior Women National Team of Burkina Faso in their first match of the WAFU Cup tournament on Thursday, May 9, before tackling their counterparts from Niger Republic on Saturday, May 11. Their last match of the group phase, against Mali, comes up on Tuesday, May 14.
THE FULL SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie; Christy Ohiaeriaku; Alaba Jonathan
Defenders: Glory Ogbonna; Chidinma Okeke; Mary Ologbosere; Mariam Ibrahim; Evelyn Nwabuoku
Midfielders: Osarenoma Igbinovia; Amarachi Okoronkwo; Cynthia Aku; Adebisi Saheed; Peace Efih
Forwards: Uchenna Kanu; Alice Ogebe; Chioma Wogu; Esther Sunday; Rafiat Sule; Joy Bokiri; Rita Okoro.