By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Late withdrawal of no fewer than five key players has left newly appointed American-born coach, Randy Waldrum with only 18 players as Super Falcons get ready for their first match against CSKA FC in the on-going Turkish Women’s Cup in Alanya on Thursday.
Coach Waldrum had earlier invited 23 players for the 5th edition of the Turkish Women’s Cup slated for Alanya from February 15 to 24, 2021.
But club duties and injuries have ensured that about five players withdrew from the list released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the Turkey trip last week.
Amongst the absentees are Super Falcons first choice goalkeeper,
Chiamaka Nnadozie of Paris FC, France; midfielders-Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene of Eskilstuna, Sweden and Christy Ucheibe of SL Benfica, Portugal as well as
Rasheedat Ajibade of Atletico Madrid, Spain. No information on the fifth player Charity Adule of SD Eibar, Spain.
Meanwhile, present in Super Falcons Alanya camp in Turkey are the regulars including Captain Asisat Lamina Oshoala, ex- skippers-Onome Ebi and Rita Chikwelu, Francisca Ordega, Toochukwu Oluehi, Osinachi Ohale, Esther Sunday and Halimat Ayinde.
Others are budding stars Glory Ogbonna, Uchenna Kanu, Christy Ohiaeriaku, Chidinma Okeke, Chinwendu Ihezue, Marriam Ibrahim, Gift Monday, Ramat Abdulkareem and Habeebat Akinwande as well as new foreign- based invitees- Patricia George of Sands FC, Germany and Antoinette Payne of Sevilla FC, Spain.
