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No Oparanozie, Gift Monday, Oluehi as Waldrum names Nigeria squad for Revelation Cup
By Wale Mustapha
Head Coach of Nigeria’s senior women national team, Randy Waldrum has picked 23 players, excluding Desire Oparanozie, Tochukwu Oluechi and Gift Monday for the trip to the inaugural Revelation Cup in Mexico next month.
Nigeriafootball.ng understands the China based star, who missed the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations was initially included on the roster for the Mexico trip but her name was conspicuously missing in the final announcement.
Sources also informed the tabloid that the former Dijon striker was part of the team’s traveling party social media group before her return to her base in Wuhan, China, made securing her difficult.
Other notable omissions are veteran goalkeeper Oluehi, Tenerife striker Monday and FC Gintra star Vivian Ikechukwu, Macleans Chinonyerem, who were all part of the team’s 2022 Wafcon campaign in Morocco last July.
However, the 23-player roster also heralded the return of top stars, including Saint Etienne forward Esther Okoronkwo, Asisat Oshoala, captain Onome Ebi, China-based Chiwendu Ihezuo and US based Jennifer Echegini.
The four-nation tournament holding between 15th and 21st February, 2023 will prepare the participating teams for the ninth FIFA Women’s World Cup coming up later in the summer in Australia and New Zealand.
The nine-time African champions will play their first game of the tournament against hosts Mexico starting at 4pm Mexico time (10pm Nigeria time) on Wednesday, 15th February, three hours after the opening match between Costa Rica and Colombia.
Nigeria’s delegation to the tournament are expected to depart the country’s shores on Saturday, 11th February.
The Super Falcons will tackle co-hosts Australia, Olympic champions Canada and debutants Republic of Ireland at what will be the biggest FIFA Women’s World Cup finals ever, this summer in Australia and New Zealand.
ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:
Goalkeepers: Chiamka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Yewande Balogun (AS Saint-Etienne, France)
Defenders: Onome Ebi (Levante Las Planas (Spain); Osinachi Ohale (Deportivo Alaves, Spain); Ashleigh Plumptre (Leicester City, England); Glory Ogbonna (ALG Spor, Turkey); Rofiat Imuran (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Akudo Ogbonna (Rivers Angels)
Midfielders: Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosengard, Sweden); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (Eskilstuna United, Sweden); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Jennifer Echegini (Florida State University, USA); Regina Otu (AS Saint-Etienne, France)
Forwards: Asisat Oshoala (Barcelona Femenin, Spain); Esther Okoronkwo (AS Saint-Etienne, France); Ifeoma Onumonu (NY/NJ Gotham FC, USA); Chinwendu Ihezuo (Rayadas Monterrey, Mexico); Francisca Ordega (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Uchenna Kanu (Tigres Femenil, Mexico)
