By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Those expecting the Super Falcons camp to open early for the forthcoming Lagos Six-Nation Invitational Friendly Matches will have to wait longer as the Nigeria camp will open on Monday, September 13, 2021.
Prompt News exclusively gathered that the Nigeria’s camp for the Lagos Invitational Friendlies will open on September 13 when the bulk of the “foreign legion” invited for the two games will arrive camp.
This is even as many invited overseas-based Falcons will not be released by their clubs earlier than Monday, September 13 when the 2021 FIFA Women’s Window for the month of September will commence.
Recall that Super Falcons’ Head Coach, Randy Waldrum has named a 23-woman provisional list for the Lagos Six-Nation Invitational football fiesta with only four players plying their trade locally.
But Prompt News can confirm that almost all the 19 overseas-based players are tied with club football till Sunday, September 12, leaving the Super Falcons coaches with no players to train if the team opens camp before Monday, September 13.
Further investigations revealed that five Sweden-based Falcons defenders,
Glory Ogbonna (Umea FC) and Faith Ikidi (Pitea DFF); midfielders, Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene
(Eskilstuna United) and Joy Bokiri (AIK FC) as well as striker Uchenna Kanu
(Linkopings FC), who has scored 7 goals this season, will not be released till after their club matches on Sunday, September 12.
In fact, Bokiri’s AIK will host Michael’s Pitea IF in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan (Premiership match) on Sunday, September 12 hence the two will not arrive Lagos till the next day, Monday, September 13.
Other players who are certain to arrive camp late for the friendly matches are Spain-based team captain Asisat Oshoala whose FC Barcelona feminine will play a leaque match against Real Betis on Saturday, September 11 just as Osinachi Ohale’s Deportivo Alaves will play on Sunday, September 12 against Rayo Vallecano.
Rita Chikwelu’s Madrid CFF, will also play on Sunday against Granadilla Tenerife as Tony Payne, Sevilla FC and Rasheedat Ajibade, Atletico Madrid, will be busy too.
France-based trio of Desire Ugochi Oparanozie, Dijon FC; Esther Okoronkwo, Saint-Etienne and goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie of Paris FC are match-tied till Sunday, September 12.
Also, United States-based,
Michelle Alozie of Houston Dash, has club engagement on Saturday, September 11 when her club hosts Chicago Red Stars in the Women’s Premier League match.
However, some players who may arrive early in Lagos because they don’t have club duties are two goalkeepers Yewande Balogun of U.S amateur league club, California Storm FC and Toochukwu Oluehi who recently joined Isreali club, Maccabi Kishronot.
Also not busy with club duties are
Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow),
Onome Ebi (Minsk FC, Belarus) and
Regina Otu (Minsk FC, Belarus) as well as home-based quartet: Goodness Onyebuchi (Edo Queens); Gift Monday (FC Robo Queens);
USA); Akudo Ogbonna (Edo Queens) and Oluwatosin Demehin (Rivers Angels).
Prompt News can confirm that the Super Falcons camp will only come alive two days to their first match against Mali in the Lagos Invitational Friendly Matches.
SUPER FALCONS FULL LIST OF 23
Goalkeepers: Tochukwu Oluehi (Maccabi Kishronot Hadera, Israel); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Yewande Balogun (California Storm, USA).
Defenders:
Onome Ebi (Minsk FC, Belarus); Glory Ogbonna (Umea FC, Sweden); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Faith Ikidi (Pitea DFF, Sweden); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Akudo Ogbonna (Edo Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Rivers Angels).
Midfielders: Rita Chikwelu (Madrid CFF, Spain); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (Eskilstuna United, Sweden); Tony Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Regina Otu (Minsk FC, Belarus); Goodness Onyebuchi (Edo Queens); Joy Bokiri (AIK Sweden FC, Sweden)
Forwards:
Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Gift Monday (FC Robo Queens); Uchenna Kanu (Linkopings FC, Sweden); Desire Oparanozie (Dijon FC, France); Esther Okoronkwo (Saint Etienne, France).
