***As Super Falcons battle Lucy in Addis Ababa
By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
After missing from featuring in the last three straight Olympic Games women’s football competition, Nigeria’s Super Falcons will today (Wednesday) in Addis Ababa clash with the senior women’s football team of Ethiopia in the first leg of the double-header at Abebe Bikila Stadium, Addis Ababa.
The last time Nigeria featured in the women’s football event was at 2008 Beijin Olympic Games in China where the team crashed out in the group stage after losing woefully to Brazil, Germany and North Korea to finish bottom of Group F.
Super Falcons tutored by late head coach, Joseph Ladipo popularly called ‘Jossy Lad’ lost 0-1 to North Korea and Germany before losing 1-3 to Brazil to return to Nigeria empty-handed.
The team was to miss the London 2012, Rio 2016 and and Tokyo 2020 Olympics after being eliminated by Cameroon twice and Cote d’Ivoire in African qualifiers to make the match in Addis Ababa a must win by Super Falcons if they hope to make it to Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
Luckily, Super Falcons’ Ramada Addis Hotel camp is now bubbling with life as Nigeria’s armada of foreign-based stars led by reigning African Best Women’s Footballer Asisat Lamina Oshoala and 11 other players joined the team ahead of today’s first leg tie at Abebe Bikila Stadium.
Those who arrived camp before breakfast on Tuesday outside Oshoala are reliable goalkeeper Nnadozie Chiamaka; defenders Alozie Michelle, Demehin Oluwatosin and Imuran Rofiat as well as midfielders Rasheedat Ajibade, Payne Antionette and Efih Peace.
Others are attackers Kanu Uchenna, Omorinsola Omowunmi and Monday Gift who arrived Ramada Addis Hotels camp before breakfast could be served. Only United States-based top striker, Ifeoma Onumonu who was scheduled to arrive camp last night did not train.
Earlier, eight players including six who departed from Nigeria on Sunday were in camp. They are Oluehi Tochukwu Ogbonna Akudo, Onyenezide Esther Chinemerem, Alani Jumoke, Oyono Monle, Folorunsho Comfort, Ajakaye Opeyemi and Payne Nicole.
Prompt News can confirm that the Nigerian coaches who are leading the Super Falcons in the absence of head coach Randy Waldrum who excused himself from the trip to Ethiopia have perfected the game plan for the crucial match against Ethiopian Lucy.
The team has had their first training session at the Abebe Bikila Stadium on Monday and a tactical session with 19 players on Tuesday to adopt a system that will ensure victory in the first leg in order to make the return leg at Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja on Tuesday, October 31. READ ALSO:
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SUPER FALCONS FOR ETHIOPIA:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia); Monle Oyono (Bayelsa Queens)
Defenders: Comfort Folorunsho (Edo Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Nicole Payne (Paris Saint Germain, France); Jumoke Alani (Edo Queens); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France)
Midfielders: Esther Onyenezide (FC Robo Queens); Peace Efih (Sporting Club de Braga, Portugal); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain)
Forwards: Omorinsola Babajide (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona Feminine, Spain); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Opeyemi Ajakaye (FC Robo Queens).
