20th January, 2012
The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has invited 30 players to the camp of the U-20 women national team, the Falconets, to prepare for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup African qualifying series.
The Falconets shocked bookmakers by reaching the final of the last FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, which was played in Germany in the summer of 2010. They eventually lost 0-2 to hosts and favourites, Germany in that final.
Since the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup began in Canada in 2002, Nigeria have qualified to represent Africa in every edition, making it to the quarter finals in Thailand 2004, Russia 2006 and Chile 2008.
Chief Coach of the Women Professional League club, Rivers Angels, Edwin Okon, has been appointed the Head Coach of the Falconets. He would be aiming to reach the finals to be staged in Uzbekistan in August/September this year.
Okon is to be assisted by former Super Falcons’ captain, Florence Omagbemi and Chris Nwaehi, with Taiwo Ajobiewe as goalkeepers’ trainer.
The Falconets have a World Cup qualifying fixture away to Sierra Leone mid-February, with the return leg scheduled for Nigeria two weeks later.
The invited players are to report at the FIFA Technical Centre, National Stadium, Abuja on Friday with their birth certificates or international passports.
PLAYERS INVITED:
Goalkeepers: Ebubeleye White (Rivers Angels), Rabi Eyiabe (Bayelsa Queens), Favour Okeke (Kogi Confluence)
Defenders: Uju Okafor (Delta Queens), Omolade Akinbiyi (Sunshine Queens), Ifeoma Nwosu, Kehinde Idowu (Pelican Stars), Anne Eromosele (Yaba Queens), Rose Umeh (Nasarawa Amazon), Esther Anthony (FCT Queens), Bose Toriola (Police Machine). Midfielders: Jane David (Delta Queens), Kemi Yetunde (Nasarawa Amazon), Obiageli Aniebue, Rosemary Okoro (Tokas FC), Aminat Yakubu, Kehinde Akinade (Robo FC), Nnenna Eke (Ibom Queens), Funsho Ogunrinola, Geraldine Amadi (Nito Queens), Habibat Bello (Rivers Angels)
Strikers: Vivian Okotie (Rivers Angels), Lola Philips (Kogi Confluence), Bushrah Adeyemi (Police Machine), Temilade Omole (Osun Queens), Winnifred Onyebora (Rivers Angels), Happiness Chibus (FCT Queens), Azeezat Oshola (Robo FC), Zainab Dauda (NICHO Ibadan), Akere Idemudia (Bayelsa Queens).
—Francis Achi/Abuja