By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Apparently to give all the 32 players in the Super Falcons camp the opportunity to exhibit their talents before the final list of players to represent Nigeria in the 12th CAF Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) in Morocco will be compiled by the technical crew, the team played a double-header friendly matches in Abuja on Thursday evening.
Head Coach, Randy Waldrum, in his wisdom arranged the two test matches which were played at the refurbished MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja Practice Pitch 1 with some of the fringe players taking on the Abuja-based Nigeria Women’s Professional Football League side, Naija Ratel FC.
The first game featured goalkeeper, Rita Akarekor; defenders Glory Ogbonna, Ugochi Emenayo, Chidinma Okeke and Michelle Alozie.
Others in the first match are Charity Adule, Christy Ucheibe, Suliat Abideen and Peace Efih in the midfield while veteran Francisca Ordega and Anam Imo who scored one goal each in both halves of the game played in the attack, although Ngozi Okobi-Okoghene later joined the fray.
The Naija Ratel’s lone goal was scored early in the second half by Nigeria’s U-17 women’s football team, Flamingos’ striker, Omowunmi Bello and the young girls should have scored more but inexperience robbed them while goalkeeper Doris Ohia was impressive to keep the scoreline low.
In the second match against Nigeria’s league champions, Bayelsa Queens, Super Falcons gaffer, paraded the usual suspects Tochukwu Oluehi started in goal with the backline of Captain Onome Ebi, Alsheley Plumptre, Osinachi Ohale and Akudo Ogbonna.
Others are midfielders Rita Chikwelu, Rasheedat Ajibade, and Halimat Ayinde while forwards Asisat Oshoala and Gift Monday played too.
But it was Coach Moses Adikwu-tutored Bayelsa Queens that shocked the Morocco-bound Super Falcons in the game of intense action as both sides are preparing for African football competitions.
Meanwhile, when it was becoming certain that the match will slip out of the hands of the Super Falcons, veteran leader Ebi equalised for her side to end the match 1-1.
With the two games, Coach Waldrum may have seen what he is looking for in each of the players who featured in the ties and will now be in a better position to drop the final 25- squad list for Morocco 2022.
