Former African Female Player of the Year Perpetua Nkwocha and goalkeeper
Precious Dede are in the list of players selected to represent Nigeria at the
2007 FIFA Women World Cup, which begins in Beijing, China, from September 10 to
30.
According to the list, other players in the team are Tochukwu Oluehi and
Rachael Aladi Ayegba, who are joined by Efioanwan Ekpo; Ayisat Yusuf; Onome Ebi;
Gift Otuwe; Stella Mbachu and Ifeanyichukwu Chiejine.
Also in the team are Ogonna Chukwudi; Rita Chikwelu; Chichi Igbo; Christie
George; Faith Ikidi; Maureen Mmadu; Ulumma Jerome; Yinka Kudaisi; Cynthia Uwak;
Lilian Cole and Maureen Eke.
The Falcons will fly out of their training camp in Germany tomorrow and will
land in China on Wednesday evening.
The Nigerians will play their first match of the competition against last
tournament's runners-up Sweden, in Chengdu on Sept. 11, and tackle DPR Korea,
whose junior team won the FIFA Junior World Cup in Russia last year, in the same
city three days later. The Falcons' last group phase match is against the United
States in Shanghai on Sept. 17.
The heart appears to have been ripped out of the Super Falcons just nine days
to their opening match of the FIFA Women's World Cup after experienced skipper
Kikelomo Ajayi and forward Vera Okolo were forced to pull out with injuries.
Ajayi, a no-nonsense defender, pulled a back muscle during training in
Germany while Okolo has failed to recover from a knee injury picked up during
the All Africa Games in July.
The defender, who inherited the captain's armband from FlorenceOmagbemi said
she would not be available.
Ajayi is the most experienced player in the squad, having played in three
FIFA Women World Cup, five African Women Championships and two Olympic Games,
and her absence will come as a major blow to coach Ntiero Effiom.
