Eskiltuna United of Sweden midfielder, Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene says she and her colleagues in Nigeria’s female national team, Super Falcons are staying upbeat about their chances at this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, as she says they have a squad good enough to shine.
Although megasportsarena.com reports that the Falcons are rated below their three rivals in Group A, being Norway, South Korea and hosts, France, Okobi says they are determined to prove doubters wrong and shake the championship with some upsets.
Casting a look ahead of their opening match against Norway on Saturday, Okobi is of a view that the Falcons would be able to hold their own very well against the Scandinavian nation because they know their opponents’ style of play pretty well, as she and many other players in the Nigerian team ply their trade with clubs based in the same region.
Indeed, a good number of the Falcons play for clubs in the Scandinavian region, to which Norway belongs, which Okobi says means they will have a very good idea of how the Norwegians will approach the game at Stade Auguste-Delaune on Saturday night (starting 8pm Nigeria time).
Aside Okobi in Sweden, the others are defender Osinachi Ohale, Ngozi Ebere and Faith Michael, midfielders Rita Chikwelu, Ogonna Chukwudi and Halimatu Ayinde, and forwards Anam Imo and Rasheedat Ajibade.
Of the Scandinavian lot in Nigeria’s squad to France 2019, Ajibade and Eberi play for clubs in Norway, while those based with teams in Sweden are Michael, Chikwelu, Chukwudim, Ayinde and Imo.
Okobi went on to thank Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for aiding the team with a massive preparation programme, which she believes will boost the Falcons’ efforts at the Female Mundial, where they will be captained by Guimgamp of France striker, Desire Oparanozie, while Barcelona of Spain attacker, Assiat Oshoala will be the vice-captain.
Apart from sponsoring the team to preparatory tournaments in China, Cyprus and Spain, the NFF capped the Falcons’ build-up with a two-week residential camping at Avita Resort in Austria, during which they beefed up the glory-seeking side’s technical crew, with the appointment of Per Harlsson as conditioning coach and Matti Demegard as video analyst.
In China, the African champions played two matches, losing to the host nation but defeating Romania.
In Cyprus, they lost to Belgium and Austria but defeated Thailand and Slovakia. In Spain, they narrowly lost to the Canadian national team.
While in Austria, they defeated Hungarian top division club Viktoria and also defeated a Slovenian top club, Pormuje.
Nigeria’s squad to France 2019 has three goalkeepers: Tochukwu Oluehi (Rivers Angels); Alaba Jonathan (Bayelsa Queens); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Rivers Angels), as well as give defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Vaxjo DFF, Sweden); Ngozi Ebere (Arna Bjornar, Norway); Onome Ebi (Henan Huisanhang, China); Faith Michael (Pitea IF, Sweden); and Chidinma Okeke (FC Robo Queens of Lagos).
Midfielders: Rita Chikwelu (Krstianstand DFF, Sweden); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (Eskiltuna United, Sweden); Evelyn Nwabuoku (Rivers Angels); Ogonna Chukwudi (Djurgardens IF, Sweden); Halimatu Ayinde (Eskiltuna United, Sweden); Amarachi Okoronkwo (Nasarawa Amazons)
Forwards: Desire Oparanozie (En Avant Guingamp, France); Anam Imo (Malmo FC Rosengard, Sweden); Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain); Chinaza Uchendu (SC Braga, Portugal); Uchenna Kanu (Southeastern University, USA); Rasheedat Ajibade (Alvadsnes IL, Norway); Francisca Ordega (Shanghai W. FC); Alice Ogebe (Rivers Angels); Chinwendu Ihezuo (Henana Huisanhang, China)
Okobi told thenff.com: “It is true that we have not really pulled our weight at the FIFA World Cup before now; but I can say we have the team to do that here in France.
“The NFF has done well by ensuring good preparation for the team, with the tournaments that we played.
“A lot is hanging on the first match against Norway. If we are able to get a good result, then we will take it from there.”
