By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Nigeria may not present her best legs at the much-publicised Four-Nation invitational women’s football tournament tagged ‘Summer Series’ following the inability of most of the overseas-based players to secure US entry visas.
The tournament featuring United States, Nigeria, Portugal and Jamaica is billed for Texas from June 10 to 16.
Prompt News exclusively gathered that all the invited Falcons stars based in Spain have not been issued entry visas even as nine out of 10 home-based players and backroom staff left Nigeria Monday night aboard Delta Airline for US state of Texas.
Among the Spain-based stars yet to obtain US entry visas are Co- captains, Asisat Lamina Oshoala of FC Barcelona women’s and Francisca Ordega, Lavante FC.
Others are goalkeeper, Tochukwu Oluehi (CD Pozoalbense); defenders, Osinachi Ohale (Madrid CFF) and Chidinma Okeke (Madrid CFF) as well as midfielders, Rita Chikwelu (Madrid CFF) and Oyedupe Payne (Sevilla FC).
Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid) and Charity Adule (SD Eibar) are also yet to get US Visas.
With almost the spine of the team not yet on the plane to US because of the players inability to secure US entry visas, Nigeria’s participation in the Summer Series is now in doubt.
However, our US sources report that Super Falcons Head Coach, Randy Waldrum, an American citizen has been combing Europe and Americas for eligible Nigerian-born players to raise a team which will play in the first match against Jamaica on June 10 in Houston, Texas.
