AWC: Dropped Falconet skipper returns home

Five members of the women U-20 team are in the Falcons squad.

The skipper of the women’s U-20 team, Gloria Ofoegbu, and Tawa Ishola of Sunshine Queens are back in Nigeria from Accra, Ghana, after being dropped by the Super Falcons Coach, Kadiri Ikhana ahead of the Africa Women Championships starting this weekend in Equatorial Guinea.

A disappointed Ofoegbu led the Falconets to a fourth place finish at the last U-20 World Cup in Japan and was hoping for silverware with the national women’s team.

Ofoegbu who plies her trade with Rivers Angel had told PREMIUM TIMES on arrival from Japan that she hopes to step up her game in the Falcons set-up has she admitted it was a different kettle of fish in the national women’s team compared to the Falconets

“I am happy with the chance given by the coach. I know I have to work even harder now, the Falcons team is tough so I just have to do my best to make the team,” the central defender had stated on arrival from the World Cup.

It however turned out Ofoegbu’s best was not good enough as coach Ikhana still selected as much as five players from the team captained by her.

Henrietta Ukaigbe, coordinator of the Super Falcons team, confirmed that the two players have been dropped and added that the 21 players heading to Equatorial Guinea are more than capable of retaining the African crown.

“The two players have since returned to Nigeria, they are back home now,” Ukagbe said.“We have a strong team here now and I know they are good enough to defend the African title.”

The Super Falcons are expected to depart Accra Thursday for Malabo Guinea as they gear up for the group opener with the indomitable Lioness of Cameroon on Sunday.

Nigeria have won all but one of the previous editions of the championship. Co-incidentally, it was in Equatorial Guinea that the team lost before reclaiming the title in South Africa two years ago.