By Harry Awurumibe
Apparently to have a closer look at each player’s ability to deliver in a real match situation, the Head Coach of the national senior women’s football team, Super Falcons, Thomas Dennerby this afternoon pitched the players against each other in a test-match at FIFA Goal Project Pitch, Package B, Abuja National Stadium.
The 25 players in camp were divided into two teams with three reserves for the purpose of the game officiated by one of the assistant coaches. And the players did not disappoint as they all gave out their best performance on the day while coach Dennerby and other technical officials took note.
Although the match ended 2-1 in favour of one of the teams with all the goals scored in the first half, the Swede tactician disclosed that the idea was not to see which of the teams that will carry the day but to assess the match fitness of each of the players in camp.
Dennerby commended the players for the fighting spirit but revealed that the hard work is ahead of the players as the team will soon settle down to the real training regime which is expected to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Meanwhile, Dennerby is still expecting five players in camp out of the 30 invited for the first leg second round of the African qualifying tie for the Women’s Football Tournament of next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Nigeria has been drawn to face Algeria in the second round of the qualifying fixtures, with both legs of the fixture to be concluded between August 26 and September 3.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced that the return leg of fixture, which first leg will be in Algeria, will take place at the Agege Stadium, Lagos.
Players in camp are:
Goalkeepers: Christy Ohiaeriaku (Delta Queens); Tochukwu Oluehi (Rivers Angels) and Onyinyechi Okeke (Edo Queens)
Defenders: Glory Ogbonna (Ibom Angels); Abidemi Ibe (Bayelsa Queens); Ugochi Emenayo (Nasarawa Amazons); Margaret Etim (Rivers Angels); Blessing Edoho (Ibom Queens) and Maureen Okpala (Confluence Queens
Midfielders: Osarenoma Igbinovia (Bayelsa Queens); Amarachi Okoronkwo (Nasarawa Amazons); Cecilia Nku (Rivers Angels); Adebisi Saheed (Bayelsa Queens); Regina Otu (Pelican Stars) and Celine Ottah (Bayelsa Queens)
Forward: Adejoke Ejalonibu (Nasarawa Amazons); Rafiat Sule (Rivers Angels); Joy Bokiri (Bayelsa Queens); Nneka Julius (Edo Queens); Tessy Biahwo (Bayelsa Queens); Lola Phillip (Nasarawa Amazons); Rofiat Imuran (Sunshine Queens); Joy Jerry (Bayelsa Queens) and Mary-Magdalene Anjor ( Bayelsa Queens).
Yet to arrive the Falcons Abuja camp are members of the All Africa Games-bound Falconets players – goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie; defender Joy Ndidi Duru and midfielder Cynthia Aku as well as Jonathan Alaba (Bayelsa Queens) and Alice Ogebe (Rivers Angels).
