Nigeria’s female national tam, Super Falcons will have two players born in Europe as part of their squad to a forthcoming invitational competition in United States of America.
Megasportsarena.com reports that this is sequel to belated invitations handed the duo of Onyinyechi Zogg from FC Zurich in Switzerland and Roosa Ariyo, who was born in Finland.
They will both aim for their Nigeria debuts when the Falcons kick off their campaign on Thursday in Houston, Texas against Jamaica, with several players missing from Randy Waldrum’s team, after officials said they pulled out for logistical reasons.
Among the absentees are first choice goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Sweden-based midfielder Ngozi Okobi and Spain-based striker Uchenna Kanu, following earlier withdrawals by Halimatu Ayinde and Patricia George.
With The Summer Series now looming large, Waldrum moved swiftly by calling up Zogg and riyo, despite both being uncapped players and they were born outside Nigeria, but they now look good to line out against Jamaica, Portugal and hosts USA.
Ariyo shot to limelight in May, when she led her Finnish top-flight side to a comeback triumph in a Naisten Liiga encounter with her third goal of the season.
Many mouths were left agape, after Ariyo scored an incredible stunner as TiPS came from a goal down to claim a 2-1 victory over Aland United in a Finnish Naisten Liiga game.
The Nigerian-Finnish born forward has been in breathtaking form for Pauliina Miettinen’s side this term, continuing from where she left off the 2020 season, scoring six goals in six games.
Following a 4-0 victory at Ilves the last time out, TiPS were eager to maintain their fine run at home against the Finnish champions, who are undefeated in three opening matches this season.
The hosts made a false start to the encounter as Monica Hagstrom gave Steve Beeks’s team the lead after 29 minutes of action.
However, TiPS fought back almost immediately as Ariyo scored a stunner from almost 40 metres to level matters a minute later.
After the break, Joanna Tynnila struck six minutes into the second half of the contest to ensure a back-to-back triumph for TiPS at Myyrmaen Jalkapallostadion.
Ariyo featured for 94 minutes before she was replaced by Peppi Pisila and has now scored three goals in four outings this season.
The result saw TiPS climb to second on the Finnish table with nine points from four matches – three behind leaders KuPS.
Before the contest, the 26-year-old had been in impressive form for Pauliina Miettinen’s side this term, scoring six goals in seven games.
Following her role in a 2-1 win against Honka, Miettinen handed Ariyo her eighth starting role this term and did make the best of her moments in front of goal on the pitch for the visitors.
Having beaten JyPK 2-1 at home the previous week, HPS were eyeing a back-to-back win at home but Elli Kainulainen’s opener after just 15 minutes into the encounter gave the visitors the lead.
Also in May, 24-year-old Zogg netted twice for Las Blancas in their clinical victory against their visitors at Sportanlage Heerenschurli, where her goals helped Zurich secure a 2-1 victory over Lugano in the Swiss Women’s Super League encounter.
Following a 2-0 Swiss Cup semi-final win at Grasshopper, Zurich were keen to maintain their quest for the title, despite being seven points behind leaders Servette Chenois.
Having scored her first goal in a 2-1 win over Servette Chenois, the Nigerian-Swiss born defender was given her 16th start of the season and she turned out as the heroine of the day.
The hosts got off to flying start as Mimoza Hamidi’s fine assist helped Zogg open the scoring inside the first minute.
In the 34th minute, Zurich doubled their lead when Mona Gubler surprisingly set up Zogg for her second of the encounter at Sportanlage Heerenschurli.
Zogg was in action for the duration of the contest and has now scored three goals in 20 appearances for her Swiss outfit.
The victory kept Zurich in the second position on the Swiss table with 51 points after 24 games – seven points adrift of leaders Servette.
