Daily Trust

Chikwelu, Oparanozie to lead Falcons against France

- By Orkula Shaagee

J@shagcy ust days after the Super Eagles concluded the first phase of their 2018 FIFA World Cup actual buildup with useful encounters against Poland in Wroclaw and Serbia in London, and the U20 boys concluded a two-match tour of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Senior Women’s Team, Super Falcons are also having a good kick with a prestige friendly against France.

The eight-time African champions are up against their French counterpar­ts at the Stade MMArena in the city of Le Mans, France on Friday, 6th April 2018.

Coach Thomas Dennerby, whose maidens composed entirely of home-based profession­als took third place at the WAFU Women Cup of Nations in Abidjan in February following penalty shoot-out defeat by Ghana in the semi finals, will have the complement of foreignbas­ed gladiators as well when they pitch battle with France as from 9pm on Friday next week.

Nigeria’s 17-woman list includes Rita Chikwelu, who captained the team to win an eighth continenta­l title in Cameroon in December 2016, as well as big forward Desire Oparanozie, the effervesce­nt Francisca Ordega, nimblefoot­ed midfielder Ngozi Okobi and home-based goalkeeper­s Onyinyechu­kwu Okeke and Chiamaka Nnadozie.

U.S-based forward Courtney Dike and Ordega would be first arrivals in Le Mans on Tuesday, 3rd April - the same day the delegation from Nigeria will depart from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Internatio­nal Airport, Abuja. The Super Falcons will lodge at the Mercure Le Mans Centre.

 ??  ?? Elin Rubensson (R) of Sweden vies with Desire Oparanozie (C) of Nigeria during their group D match at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Winnipeg, Canada
Elin Rubensson (R) of Sweden vies with Desire Oparanozie (C) of Nigeria during their group D match at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Winnipeg, Canada

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