THISDAY

Oshoala Left out of Falcons’ High-profile Friendly with France

Chikwelu, Oparanozie to lead eight-time African champions

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Super Falcons have left out top star Asisat Oshoala, but Desire Oparanozie and Rita Chikwelu, who led the team to win the last women’s AFCON, have been picked for next month’s high-profile 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, April 6, 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 foreign –based 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, nimble –footed 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.

THE FULL LIST Goalkeeper­s: Onyinyechu­kwu Okeke; Chiamaka Nnadozie

Defenders: Josephine Chukwunony­e; Ngozi Ebere; Faith Ikidi; Ugo Njoku; Osinachi Ohale; Glory Ogbonna

Midfielder­s: Rita Chikwelu; Ngozi Okobi; Ini-Abasi Umotong; Ogonna Chukwudi

Forwards: Francisca Ordega; Desire Oparanozie; Courtney Dike; Esther Sunday; Anam Imo.

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