BEVERLY HILLS, February 13, (THEWILL) – Since Randy Waldrum was named the head coach of Nigeria’s senior female national team, the Super Falcons, in October last year, the absence of competitive female national football opportunities has meant that he has had little input to make into the play system of the ladies as a national unit. This situation is due to change this month in Turkey.
The Super Falcons are expected in Antalya, Turkey, on Monday to compete in the fifth edition of the Gold City Tournament billed to last till Wednesday 24th February. Nigeria will be looking to be the first African side to snatch the trophy of one of the most notable events of the female football calendar.
To bring this dream to life, a star cast of 23 players have been invited to prosecute the target, led by the imperial Falcon captain Aishat Oshoala of Barcelona Feminino. Goalkeepers Tochukwu Oluehi and Chiamaka Nnadozie, defenders Onome Ebi and Chidinma Okeke, midfielders Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene, Rita Chikwelu and Halimatu Ayinde and strikers Rasheedat Ajibade and Gift Monday were also included.
In the same pool as the Nigerian team are Equatorial Guinea’s Nzalang Femenino and Uzbekistan. The Super Falcons will relish the opportunity to face the Guineans again after the 6-0 beating the Nigerian ladies inflicted on Nzalang Femenino at the group stage of the Ghana 2018 Women’s African Cup of Nations finals.
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Along with Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Uzbekistan, participating teams of the 10-day competition include Ukraine, Serbia, India and Bulgaria. Although, the Southern African female team from Zambia was scheduled to join, they pulled out due to undisclosed reasons.
The Super Falcons are seeking to join the exclusive company of teams that have taken home the Gold City trophy like Chile, Poland and double winners France, to further bolster their status as a dominant female football team, not just on the continent, but beyond.
Last year, the Black Queens of Ghana came third winning the losers’ final decider while La Roja Femenina of Chile won the competition and Hungary were runners-up.
Team Sheet
Goalkeepers: Tochukwu Oluehi (C.D. Pozoalbense, Spain); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Christy Ohiaeriaku (Edo Queens)
Defenders: Onome Ebi; Glory Ogbonna (Edo Queens); Osinachi Ohale (Madrid CFF, Spain); Mariam Ibrahim (Nasarawa Amazons); Chidinma Okeke (Madrid CFF, Spain); Habeebat Akinwande (FC Robo)
Midfielders: Rita Chikwelu (Madrid CFF, Spain); Esther Sunday (ALG SPOR, Turkey); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (Eskilstuna, Sweden); Antoinette Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Halimatu Ayinde (Eskilstuna, Sweden); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Patricia George (Sands FC, Germany)
Forwards: Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain); Uchenna Kanu (Linkopings, Sweden); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Francisca Ordega; Chinwendu Ihezuo; Gift Monday (FC Robo); Charity Adule (SD Eibar, Spain)
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
