Prolific striker snubbed as Super Falcons prepare for U.S. tourney
Super Falcons’ top striker Desire Oparanozie has been snubbed as the list of invited players for a female football tournament in the United States in June emerged on Saturday.
The Super Falcons are billed to feature at the Texas Summer Series Tour alongside the United States of America, Portugal and Jamaica women’s teams between June 10-16.
The 27-year-old Nigerian striker has scored 22 goals from 35 appearances for the Super Falcons including winning the Golden Boot of the 2014 African Women Championship.
The 25-women list is led by recent winner of the UEFA Women’s Champions League with Femeni Barcelona, Asisat Oshoala and other veterans like Francisca Ordega, Onome Ebi, Rita Chikwelu, Halimatu Ayinde, Ramatu Ajibade and Uchenna Kanu.
Three goalkeepers namely Tochukwu Oluehi, Chiamaka Nnadozie and Inyene Etim got the nod for the tourney.
Other invited players include defenders Gloria Ogbonna, Osinachi Ohale, Oluwatosin Dimehin, Abidemi Ibe, Chidinma Okeke, Patricia George and Esther Ogbonna.
Midfielders Okobi-Okeoghene, Oyedupe Payne, Amanda Mbadi and Celine Ottah are also in while Vivian Ikechukwu, Charity Adule, Gift Monday and Joy Bokiri complete the list as strikers.
Fifteen of the listed players are foreign based while the home based players are Etim, Gloria Ogbonna, Dimehin, Ibe, Gift Monday, Ottah, Mbadi, Bokiri and Ikechuckwu.
The Super Falcons are expected to face the ladies from Jamaica on June 10 at the BBVA Stadium, Houston, Texas.
The second friendly against the Portuguese ladies will take place just four days after the Jamaican game at the same stadium.
The final match of the tour will take place at the newly constructed stadium of MLS’s Austin FC on the 17th of June. The stadium is reported to have cost $240 million.
Randy Waldrum, Super Falcons coach had also stated that two players will not make the final 21 players list which will be decided by training and fitness.
The USA women will be facing the Super Falcons for the first time in a friendly game while Jamaica will also be getting their first friendly against the nine times African champions.
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