By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
The proposed Austria camping of the Super Falcons may witness the absence of some key players again as the European clubs involved in pre-season summer training may refuse to release their players for national duty.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed a week-long training camp in Austria from July 16 to 24, 2021for the Super Falcons during this coming FIFA Window, to intensify preparations ahead of Aisha Buhari Invitational Tournament holding in Lagos from September 14 to 20 , 2021.
NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick had during the week told the media that the Super Falcons, aside camping in Austria are likely to return to United States of America (USA) for more friendly matches to help the team to be in shape for the crucial African Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) qualifier against Black Queens of Ghana in October.
But Nigeria’s senior women’s football team’s Head Coach Randy Waldrum will be forced, once again to travel to Austria with mainly home-based players or call up more diaspora players who are not involved in their club’s pre-season training camp at this moment.
Prompt News can authoritatively report that some clubs have pointedly told NFF that their players will be busy with the clubs preparations towards the new football season in Europe. Others explain that their Nigerian players will not be available because of passport issues and work permit.
For these reasons Waldrum is once again faced with a tough decision of having to invite new faces to see who will fit into his plans when he will have the opportunity to have full compliment of the Super Falcons.
The American-born gaffer was faced with similar situation last time out in the Summer Series in Texas last June but passed the test by rallying Europe and US-based diaspora players to be able to prosecute the assignment. His efforts paid off handsomely as a handful of quality players were discovered in the tournament.
They include African-Americans, Michelle Alozie of Houston Dash FC; Ifeoma Onumonu of NY/NJ Gotham FC; Ijeoma Esther Okoronkwo of Lamar State University and Nicole Payne of West Virginia University as well as Yewande Balogun, a former Maryland Terrapin goalkeeper.
Meanwhile, sources close to NFF hinted that invited players and backroom staff have already completed their documentation for Austrian Visa just as logistics have been put in place for the training camp.
