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Desire Oparanozie finally returns to Super Falcons fold as camp swell to 20
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria forward Desire Oparanozie finally returned to the fold of the national women’s football team after almost two-year of absence on Wednesday in Antalya ahead of international friendlies against Haiti and New Zealand.
The former Dijon captain had a stellar season with Wuhan Jiangda in the Chinese Women’s Super League and has won three titles since she arrived from Dijon, including the Chinese Women’s Football Championship a week ago.
However, the Wuhan forward had been absence from the team since October 2021 when she was part of Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ghana, but later missed out against Cote d’Ivoire and the Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) last year in Morocco due to travel restrictions.
She also missed friendly games against the United States of America and Japan as well as during the Revelation Cup.
Her arrival from her base in China increased the number of players in camp to 20 before lunch time.
The camp opened on Tuesday with the arrivals of Yewande Balogun, Regina Otu, Esther Okoronkwo, Onome Ebi, Etim Iyene, Abiodun Deborah, Halimatu Ayinde, Vivian Ikechukwu, and Glory Ogbonna the early birds.
On Wednesday, ten new arrivals before breakfast, including Tosin Demehin, Rofiat Imuran, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Ashleigh Plumptre, Gift Monday, Asisat Oshoala, Ngozi Okobi, Toni Payne, and Rasheedat Ajibade arrived camp.
Other still expected are American based quartet of Ifeoma Onumonu, Michelle Alozie, Uchenna Kanu, and Jennifer Onyi Echegini and Spain based Osinachi Ohale.
Nigeria will face Haiti on Friday at the Emir Sports Complex in Antalya, Turkey before squaring up with World Cup co-hosts New Zealand at the Mardan Sports Complex on Tuesday.
