SUPER FALCONS: NFF release names of 35 Players for WAFU CUP

Thirty five players have been invited to the camp of the Super Falcons ahead of the upcoming WAFU Women Cup of Nations taking place in Cote d’Ivoire, 10^th– 24^th February 2018.

The list, which also has veterans Joy Jegede and Mariam Ibrahim as well as junior internationals Gift Monday, Anam Imo and Mary Ologbosere, was released less than 24 hours after the unveiling in Abuja of new Super Falcons’ Head Coach, Thomas Dennerby.

The WAFU Women Cup of Nations provides a first opportunity for Dennerby and assistant Jorgen Petersson, alongside their Nigerian assistants Oni Olanrewaju Wemimo, Maureen Mmadu, Taiwo Omobolanle Tundun and Precious Dede to bond with the players they will be working with going forward.

Eight –time African champions Nigeria will tackle Benin Republic, Senegal and Togo in Group B of the WAFU Women Cup of Nations, with host Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic to battle it out in Group A.

All the players have been advised to report at the Serob Legacy Hotel, Wuse, Abuja on Thursday, 1^st February 2018 with their international passports.

THE FULL LIST OF INVITED PLAYERS

GOALKEEPERS
Onyinyechukwu Okeke (Inneh Queens); Rita Akarekoh (Delta Queens); Chioma Nwankwo (Nasarawa Amazons); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Rivers Angels); Oluwaseun Bello (Police Machine)

DEFENDERS
Ayomide Ojo (Police Machine); Kemi Famuditi (Confluence Queens); Glory Ogbonna (Ibom Angels); Opeyemi Aiyeniberu (Sunshine Queens); Mary Ologbosere (Rivers Angels); Sarah Ilodubah (Osun Babes); Joy Jegede (Delta Queens); Lilian Tule (Bayelsa Queens); Uju Okafor (Delta Queens)

MIDFIELDERS
Osas Igbinovia (Bayelsa Queens); Ihuoma Onyebuchi (Sunshine Queens); Oluwakemi Toriola (Police Machine); Ogechi Ukwuoma (Delta Queens); Folashade Ijamilusi (WAFA League); Peace Efih (Inneh Queens)

FORWARDS
Mary Anjor (Osun Babes); Mercy Amanze (Rivers Angels); Juliet Sunday (Sunshine Queens); Aminat Yakubu (Bayelsa Queens); Chinaza Uchendu (Rivers Angels); Rasheedat Ajibade (FC Robo Queens); Anam Imo (Nasarawa Amazons); Mariam Aluko (Confluence Queens); Rofiat Suleiman (Rivers Angels); Gift Monday (FC Robo Queens); Alice Ogebe (Rivers Angels); Precious Edewor (Ibom Angels); Chioma Wogu (Rivers Angels)

Ronaldo admits he's only Human

Isaac Williams

There are no doubting Ronaldo's credentials - his achievements are staggering; there is no doubting his passion for the game and there is no doubting his love for the mirror also.

This time the doubts come from Ronaldo himself, whose initial plan of playing football at top level till 41 seems like no picnic for the Portuguese star. Ronaldo speaking on his retirement plan says: “Now my plan to retire at 41 will probably be a bit more difficult to achieve and now we live in the moment”. 

Though a legend in his business; Ronaldo in his statement has identified with his frailties. Of course Ronaldo’s doubts over how much longer he can cope with the physical demands of the game are reasonable.  It's hard to imagine a 32 year old player keeping this sort of fitness level for another decade. 

Whether Ronaldo’s employers are interested in keeping him is yet to be known as there has been no commitment of any kind from the Real Madrid owners coupled with rumours of Real Madrid’s supposed interest in Neymar, Eden Hazard and Harry Kane. This brings us to another question: “would Real Madrid be interested in keeping Ronaldo any longer than his current contract which runs out in 2020?”

Meanwhile, Ronaldo has made his intentions to stay at Real Madrid clear, he’s quoted as saying: “Of course I want to stay at Real Madrid, I love this club, and I love the weather and the people. I've lived in this city since 2009. It’s close to Portugal and you can get there by car – Spain is a great country. I love it."

It’s not hard to imagine Ronaldo taking road trips from Madrid to Portugal often nor would it be hard to predict he'll take more in the nearest future – at least till the end of his current contract. One thing is certain, at the moment; we have not seen the last of record breaking Ronaldo.

[Editor: Tobi Adesina]