Nine-time African champions, Super Falcons of Nigeria have observed their first training session in Austria in preparation for the Inaugural Aisha Buhari Cup.
The coach of the team, Randy Waldrum on his social media page was excited with the first training session and pleased with the players in camp.
“Excellent training session this morning in Austria with @NGSuper_Falcons Excited about this group! #SuperFalcons,”the American gaffer tweeted.
Randy Waldrum handed debut Invitation to Leicester City’s Ashleigh Plumptre, Josephine Ijeh (BK Hacken), Adekite Fatuga-Dada (Watford FC), and Evelyn Ijeh (BK Hacken).
The gaffer also recalled Dijon FC forward, Desire Oparanozie alongside Ini-Abasi Umotong (Lewes FC), and Ebere Orji.
Read Also: Aisha Buhari Cup: Oparanozie Returns, Leicester Star Megan Ashleigh Gets Maiden Invitation
Three players from the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership also made the team list including Onyinyechi Okeke (Bayelsa Queens), Esther Ogbonna (Edo Queens), and Monday Gift (FC Robo Queens).
The 8-day training camp in Austria is part of
intense preparations for some upcoming challenges, most notably the
Aisha Buhari Invitational Women’s Football Tournament and 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AWCON) Qualifiers against Black Queens of Ghana.
The City of Lagos will host the six-nation invitational that will see
the Super Falcons, Ghana’s Black Queens, Cameroon’s Indomitable
Lionesses, Banyana Banyana of South Africa, Morocco, and Mali tango in
a celebratory atmosphere in September for a glittering
trophy named in honour of Nigeria’s First Lady, Dr (Mrs) Aisha Buhari.
SUPER FALCONS SQUAD FOR
AUSTRIA
Goalkeepers: Tochukwu Oluehi; Chiamaka
Nnadozie (Paris FC, France);
Oyinyechi Okeke (Bayelsa Queens);
Yewande Balogun (California Storm,
USA)
Defenders: Glory Ogbonna (Umeå IK); Osinachi Ohale (Madrid
CFF, Spain); Esther Ogbonna (Edo
Queens); Chidinma Okeke (Madrid
CFF, Spain); Onyinyechi Zogg (FC
Zurich, Switzerland); Nicole Payne
(West
Virginia University, USA); Michelle
Alozie (Houston Dash, USA);
Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City,
England); Josephine Ijeh (BK Hacken,
Sweden)
Midfielders: Rita Chikwelu (Madrid
CFF, Spain); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene
(Eskilstuna United, Sweden); Toni
Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Adekite
Fatuga-Dada (Watford FC, England)
Forwards: Rasheedat Ajibade
(Atletico Madrid, Spain); Francisca
Ordega (Levante UD, Spain); Gift
Monday (FC Robo Queens); Joy
Bokiri (Bayelsa Queens); Uchenna
Kanu (Linkopings FC, Sweden); Ebere
Orji (Sundsvall
DFF, Sweden); Ini-Abasi Umotong
(Lewes FC, England); Evelyn Ijeh (BK
Hacken, Sweden); Desire Oparanozie
(FC Dijon, France)
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COMMENTS
Lots of new faces. Former Nigeria striker Peter Ijeh’s daughters Evelyn and Josephine in there as well.
The Falcon’s handlers are following the NBBF template of going for our best talents wherever they may be located. The few HB players selected are there purely on merit, not to fulfill some quota requirements. Only good things can happen with this approach.
The world might be in for a big surprise at the next world cup.
Is Oshoala not included in the squad?