HomeNigeria National Teams

France 2019: Ebi, Oparanozie, Oshoala, 20 others Make Super Falcons Final Squad ; Umotong Dropped

France 2019: Ebi, Oparanozie, Oshoala, 20 others Make Super Falcons Final Squad ; Umotong Dropped

Super Falcons striker Desire Oparanozie, Onome Ebi and Asisat Oshoala top the list of 23 players who have been included in Nigeria’s final squad for the 8th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in France by Head Coach Thomas Dennerby, reports Completesports.com.

According to a media statement from Nigeria Football Federation communications department, Dennerby also included Tochukwu Oluehi, Osinachi Ohale, Ngozi Ebere, Rita Chikwelu, Ngozi Okobi, Halimatu Ayinde, Rasheedat Ajibade and Francisca Ordega in the Falcons’ roster.

Defender Chidinma Okeke made the cut, as did midfielders; Amarachi Okoronkwo and Evelyn Nwabuoku and home-based forward, Alice Ogebe.

But defender Josephine Chukwunonye and England–based forward Ini-Abasi Umotong were dropped.

The Super Falcons will on Tuesday, 4th June depart Austria where they have been on a two-week residential camping for France, where they will confront Norway, Korea Republic and host nation France (in that order) in the group phase.

23 Super Falcons For 8TH FIFA Women’s World Cup Final

Goalkeepers: Tochukwu Oluehi (Rivers Angels); Alaba Jonathan (Bayelsa Queens); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Rivers Angels)

Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Vaxjo DFF, Sweden); Ngozi Ebere (Arna Bjornar, Norway); Onome Ebi (Henan Huisanhang, China); Faith Michael (Pitea IF, Sweden); Chidinma Okeke (FC Robo)

Midfielders: Rita Chikwelu (Krstianstand DFF, Sweden); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (Eskiltuna United, Sweden); Evelyn Nwabuoku (Rivers Angels); Ogonna Chukwudi (Djurgardens IF, Sweden); Halimatu Ayinde (Eskiltuna United, Sweden); Amarachi Okoronkwo (Nasarawa Amazons)

Forwards: Desire Oparanozie (En Avant Guingamp, France); Anam Imo (Malmo FC Rosengard, Sweden); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain); Chinaza Uchendu (SC Braga, Portugal); Uchenna Kanu (Southeastern University, USA); Rasheedat Ajibade (Alvadsnes IL, Norway); Francisca Ordega (Shanghai W. FC); Alice Ogebe (Rivers Angels); Chinwendu Ihezuo (Henana Huisanhang, China).

By Johnny Edward


Copyright © 2024 Completesports.com All rights reserved. The information contained in Completesports.com may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without the prior written authority of Completesports.com.

COMMENTS

WORDPRESS: 16
  • Gmoney 5 years ago

    This is unfair how can you drop umotong from the list

  • Asoko Emmanuel 5 years ago

    The Coach must have taken bribe.mhwwhwwwwhww.

  • matsho 5 years ago

    He should take attackers only to the tournament .You are all in camp with them to know better than him.

  • Precious 5 years ago

    They won’t succeed why? Dropping Umotong means they preparing to fail. She’s good and got the desire. So sad Umotong big up. 

  • What kind of criminal white coaches does Nigeria always employed? How can you be going to a tournament with just five defenders. And you pack your team full of attackers, don’t they factor in red cards and injury? Well what do i know. Still wishing the team all the best.

  • Omo9ja 5 years ago

    How come Umotong bn dropped? Politics ba? Now I understand. Only God can help this Country called Nigeria. Well, let’s wait and see how it’s goes. I wish the team a good outing in France. God bless Nigeria!!!

    • Dr. Drey 5 years ago

      Hihihihihihihi…that’s the dennerby you have been hyping as if he’s the next best thing to happend to mankind after the discovery of garri. LMAO
      First it was the sensational omission of Courtney Dike (the only player to have scored a hat-trick in all of the friendlies so far) from the preliminary squad. Now it is Umotong (who has been consistent at club level and was also at the last world cup) that has been dropped.
      Na sidon look we dey o.
      Abeg since you have somewho become our oracle on this forum, the mouthpiece of the gods, the one who knows when/where we will crash out, plus can you help as ask ifa how far the falcons will go in the WC, which country will win the world cup and which country will win the AFCON. So that we wont have to raise our BPs when watching the tournaments.

      • Peterside Udah 5 years ago

        @Omo9ja, na true you talk.

        • Omo9ja 5 years ago

          @Peterside Udah, thanks bro. I just said it, saying the truth is like a full time job for me lol but some of us doesn’t like it. Something is fishy about the list. God bless Nigeria!!!

  • Pompei 5 years ago

    Umotong is a very good player indeed. However, if she was selected, we would have had 10 forwards. If the decision to drop her was merit based, then the coaches had no choice. It is what it is. You can’t select a player ahead of others who are better.

  • Aleks 5 years ago

    Hmmm….usually, after announcement of team lists, I try to get into the coaches head to find possible justifications for picking or dropping some particular player, especially when the decision seems controversial. Mostly I do find myself at least understanding the coaches reasoning for choosing some players who may otherwise have been part of the team in my opinion. But in this case, I’m still trying to fathom why Coach Dennerby would drop Josephine Chukwunonye and Ini-Abasi Umotong. As surprised as I am at the dropping of Umotong, I’m completely shocked at the dropping of Chukwunonye. She’s amongst the youngest, and by far the most mobile and energetic member of the teams otherwise ageing and slow defensive line. Added to this is her versatility, having the ability to play across the entire defence line and even in the defensive midfield. I can’t say what happened in camp, but I hope the coaches have very good reasons for dropping her. Besides, it’s quite a risk going into the tournament with only 5 defenders, although I suspect that some of the midfielders can also slot into the defence.
    On Ini-Abasi Umotong, if I were the coach, I would take her over Ihezuo. I don’t know much about Alice Ogebe, but at least I’ve seen Umotong play, so I’d probably have taken Umotong over her too, unless Ogebe really brings  something special to the team. In any case the team has been announced, and we can only respect the coaches decision. I trust that they know what they are doing, and also share our desire for a good performance in the tournament.

    • Dr. Drey 5 years ago

      ….same here @ Alex.
      I’ve been trying to also find reasons for the coach’s decision to drop those two. As for Josephine….maybe…just maybe….maybe she was injured and wouldnt recover on time….we never know, i wasnt in camp with them, and we didnt get much updates from the media on the happenings in camp, but that defence looks quite lean for me, even though I understand that Evelyn Nwabuoku can fit in comfortably at right back at times, While Ogonna can also be a makeshift centre back ICE, but i would have fancied a natural centreback as replacement for Josephine.
      In attack, dropping Umotong is shocking, dropping her for Ihezuo is even more ‘shockingly shocking’. Till tomorrow, i dont konw on what basis Ihezuo gets invited to the national team. The last time I saw any reasonable football from her in Nigeria’s colours was in the U17 WC in Azerbaijan where she score 5 goals in one match against the host. That proved to be a flash in the pan as all, i mean all other participations in all national teams (including the U20) has been largely underwhelming. At her 1st U20s she was overshadowed first by Assisat and Coutrney Dike, at her 2nd U20s she was overshdowed by Uchenna Kanu, in the senior national team she has 0 impact, can remember her scoring for the falcons….as a left winger….terrible….as a centre forward…ineffective…not one to look up to to save you from distress in times of trouble. Umotong on the over hand has been indicating her intentions to steal the No 9 jersey form her ‘twin sister’ desire oparanozie. Not only do they look alike facially and physically, they also have similar styles of play, possess the same attributes and are equally as deadly as each other. Dropping Umotong for me is as good as dropping Oparanozie.
      Looking the the attack line, we only have 1 CF…that’s Oparanozie. The rest are either WFs or SS. Lets hope Desire finds her ryhthm early in the tournament and sustain it throughout out stay there.
      Thomas denerby should better have an unarguable excuse for dropping her…!

  • I followed to progress of Ini Umotong in the English (women) Premier league where she featured regularly for Brighton so I was left shocked that she failed to make the cut!

    Looking at the squad, it looks very lopsided with the defence and centre forward particularly thin.

    Having said that, I am yet to find any final squad for any tournament for any country that has failed to court controversy.

    Back to this squad, I don’t think Dennerby sees the positions of the ladies quite like we do.

    I think he sees Forwards who can also play as fluid, mobile attacking midfielders and central midfielders who can play as centre defenders.

    Like Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp, I get the sense that Dennerby is not overly keen big centre forwards – one is enough so, unfortunately, for all her exposure, Ini Umotong became a casualty of this mindset.

    To try to get to the mind of Dennerby’s squad selection, I turn to an article on goal.com to which the Swede said:”When we started at the beginning, I said that the type of players we’ve been searching for in the midfield are young, quick moving and more mobile players. Nothing has changed.”

    He made this statement on the back deploying midfielder Evelyn Nwabuoku as a centre-back in the Wafu tournament.

    He went on to say:”Everybody can see that we don’t use her as a midfielder but as a defender because there is an option to do that also….She’s getting better and better with every game. I’m happy with that.”

    It might not seem so but this coach knows what he is doing.

    This is total football – players that are flexible, fluid and adaptable to play in multiple positions and provide options whilst being ruthless and effective.

    The sheer defensive mindset of almost all the centre midfielders in the squad make them suitable to centre defence roles (if required) whilst several of the forwards can play as centre-forward and attacking midfielders.

    Dennerby’s squad is decent and capable of causing problems in France.

  • mutum 5 years ago

    hahhahaahhaah make I lafg small….up coach wannabe. tell me wetin oparanozie the play now(currently).babe don lost form totally.ah ah coach! umotobong na very good player that can replace iheozu,oparonozie in that team. friends, we go collect for France ooo.

  • Mr Hush 5 years ago

    I am not one for sentiments but must say, I feel personally gutted by the fact Ini was dropped.
    She is a good player;plays high level and more importantly, her commitment and passion to play for her country is totally unprecedented;top notch.She is kind of an inspiration.
    But as @deo explained ,every coach has his ways; different mindset goes with different tactics.
    Dennerby has chosen his squad base on his belief and his tactics . He has seen these players through and through in training and matches,so he knows the ones who suits his style.
    Yes. I am pained; but I would give Dennerby the benefit of doubt,knowing fully well, every coach has his day,but would be judge by tomorrow . Results is all that matters. 
    For now. Good luck Super Falcons.you always have our support

  • Omo9ja 5 years ago

    Hahahahaha. I’m still shaking my head for you o. You finally opened my mouth abi? @Dr. Drey, this is the first time in history that I have to replied you.

    You see Doctor, I have no grudges with you and I don’t hate you either.

    The way you presented yourself on this forum makes me stepped aside and I begins seeing new Dr. Drey, that is why I am replying to you today.

    If you continue this way why not, I will keep replying to you comments.

    You are such a smart, intelligent and very bold person. Please don’t misused these qualities. You have a huge talent no doubt. As time goes on, you will discover it.

    However, I do not like any coach over my Country. Coach Dennerby have some questions to answered here. He left out some of our best players out of the final list and to be honest, this is too bad.

    Back to your questions lolz.
    “Abeg since you have somewho become our oracle on this forum, the mouthpiece of the gods, the one who knows when/where we will crash out, plus can you help as ask ifa how far the falcons will go in the WC, which country will win the world cup and which country will win the AFCON. So that we wont have to raise our BPs when watching the tournaments”.

    Hmmm, afisuru o lol. You Dr. Drey, you are something else o. So omo9ja is an Oracle of football on this platform now abi? No wahala.

    Well, thanks for the compliments but I’m not IFA nor gods.

    I omo9ja only faith in (Allah) “God” nothing else. God is just using my tongue to “pinpoint the truth”. He is the only one that can say what will happens tomorrow. Nobody else can. So therefore Doctor, I have no control over that, I am only predicting o. I’m not a baba alawo o. Hmmm, it is well lol. Happy weekend my people. God bless us all. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!

Update cookies preferences