By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Again, football followers are outraged over the replacement of injured midfielder, Halimatu Ibrahim Ayinde with forward Ifeoma Onumonu in Super Falcons final 18-player squad for the 2024 Paris Olympics Women’s Football Tournament in France later in the month.
Super Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum on Wednesday replaced recuperating Ayinde with USA-based forward Onumonu in his squad for the Games. She alongside Spain-based Gift Monday and home-based duo, defender Jumoke Alani of Nasarawa Amazons and Morufat Ademola of Rivers Angels were named to the initial alternate list by Waldrum.
With the Utah Royals attacker being moved to the main squad, midfielder Regina Otu has been named as her replacement on the alternate list and the new invitee is already on the flight to Spain.
Waldrum’s selection of Onumonu to the bloated size of forwards to seven including team captain Rasheedat Ajibade, Esther Okoronkwo, Asisat Oshoala, Uchenna Kanu, Chiwendu Ihezuo and Chinonyerem Macleans and reduction of midfielders to four have drawn criticism.
Football followers are now querying why the 30-year-old Onumonu has now been moved to the substantive 18-player squad by Waldrum instead of Otu in the like for like manner as Nigeria’s midfield has been depleted by the injury sustained by midfield maestro Ayinde.
“A like for like replacement would have been better than using an attacker to replace a midfielder. The team already has many attackers so what is the rationale in Waldrum picking another attacker to replace an injured midfielder. I don’t get it”, a respected women’s football follower who pleaded anonymity.
Also, an Abuja-based civil servant and football enthusiast, Ibrahim Saliu
Koiki said Super Falcons coach is in the best position to know where he has to fortify in the team but disagreed with the choice of using a forward to replace a midfielder in the team.
Said he: “Why did he not consider a natural midfielder instead of a makeshift midfielder when there are natural midfielders in Nigeria to pick. Then why did he invite a midfielder Regina Otu but had quickly pick a striker to replace Ayinde even before the midfielder arrives camp. It is a total waste of scarce resources”. READ ALSO:
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Paris 2024 Olympics-bound Super Falcons:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC); Tochukwu Oluehi (Shualat Alsharqia FC, Saudi Arabia).
Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Nicole Payne (Portland Thorns FC, USA); Chidinma Okeke (Mynavi Sendai Ladies, Japan)
Midfielders: Deborah Abiodun (University of Pittsburgh, USA); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Jennifer Echegini (Juventus Ladies, Italy); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain)
Forwards: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Esther Okoronkwo (Changchun FC, China); Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC, USA); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Chiwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Chinonyerem Macleans (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia); Ifeoma Onumonu (Utah Royals, USA) (latest addition).
Alternate Players: Jumoke Alani (Nasarawa Amazons); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Morufa Ademola (Rivers Angels) and Regina Otu (latest addition).
