Nigeria’s senior women, Super Falcons continue the pursuit of a ticket to the women’s football tournament of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics when they fly to Abidjan, capital city of Cote d’Ivoire on Tuesday, ahead of a second round, first leg clash with their Ivorian counterparts on Thursday.
The nine-time African champions and 3-0 winners on aggregate over Algeria in the first round will travel aboard Air Cote d’Ivoire, and arrive in Abidjan in the evening early enough to have a walk-out. They will have the official training session at the match venue on Wednesday.
Acting Head Coach Chris Danjuma has selected seven overseas-based and 11 home-based professionals for the clash, with new captain and FC Barcelona ace Asisat Oshoala leading the 18 –woman playing body. There are also defenders Chidinma Okeke and Osinachi Ohale, midfielders Ngozi Okobi and Chinaza Uchendu and forwards Francisca Ordega and Rasheedat Ajibade from overseas.
Goalkeepers Tochukwu Oluehi and Chiamaka Nnadozie, defenders Ugochi Emenayo, Glory Ogbonna and Maryam Ibrahim, midfielders Amarachi Okoronkwo, Cecilia Nku, Ihuoma Onyebuchi and Regina Otu, and forwards Gift Monday and Rafiat Sule complete the roster.
The Nigeria Football Federation has already scheduled the return leg of the fixture for the Agege Stadium, Lagos on Monday, 7th October 2019.
18 FALCONS FOR ABIDJAN
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie; Tochukwu Oluehi
Defenders: Ugochi Emenayo; Glory Ogbonna; Osinachi Ohale; Chidinma Okeke; Maryam Ibrahim; Ihuoma Onyebuchi
Midfielders: Amarachi Okoronkwo; Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene; Regina Otu; Cecilia Nku; Chinaza Uchendu
Forwards: Asisat Oshoala; Francisca Ordega; Gift Monday; Rafiat Sule; Rasheedat Ajibade
Imama shifts focus to building strong U23 squad
Super Eagles B Head Coach, Imama Amapakabo, still pained by the 2-1 loss to Togo on Sunday, is hopeful that the greater goal of building a quality U23 side for Nigeria would not be lost. Nigeria lost to Togo in Thies, Senegal in their first match of the 2019 WAFU Cup billed to end October 13.
It was a second loss for the mixed team of senior and junior players within a week.
Amapakabo said in Thies on Sunday night that much as they had desired to win the major trophy in Senegal, he is determined to ensure that the bigger plan of developing a squad of quality players is achieved.
“We lost the game against Togo but the team showed the capacity to win. As you may not know, this is largely our U23 team needing exposure.
“When players at that level play a competition like this they are bound to make mistakes. The first half was not up to the level we desired because there were some errors but we returned in the second half a lot much better creating many
scoring chances.
“As a coach I like to take responsibilities. It is my job to make the team create quality scoring chances which they did. It’s a pity the goals didn’t come off such opportunities and we lost. Teams come to competitions to win. We also like to win every match we play but we are also mindful of the greater objective of this team. Our greater job is to build a virile young team with a competition like this. We want a team of high quality that can serve us for the U23 competitions and also develop well enough to transit to the senior national team.”
On Sunday the Eagles had greater control of proceedings on the pitch against the Sparrow Hawks but failed to convert several scoring chances.
Nigeria will play their next match on Saturday against the loser of the game between Cote d’Ivoire and Cape Verde. The teams were billed to play by 8pm local time on Monday. The Eagles dropped down to losers’ competition after the loss to Togo.