The Super Falcons have again overlooked former captain Desire Oparanozie from their latest squad, while Sevilla forward Toni Payne has been called up by new coach Randy Waldrum for the Turkish Women’s Cup.
Oparanozie fell out with top officials after she allegedly led a pay strike at the World Cup in France.
She was subsequently stripped of the captaincy and has not been involved with the team ever since even though she has been doing well at her new French club Dijon.
Toni Payne is one of the fresh call-ups to the Falcons.
She has previously represented the USA U17s.
Otherwise, Waldrum has kept faith with the team’s tried and trusted players led by skipper Asisat Oshoala, Onome Ebi, Francisca Ordega and Tochukwu Oluehi.
Super Falcons Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Tochukwu Oluehi (C.D. Pozoalbense, Spain); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC, France); Christy Ohiaeriaku (Edo Queens)
Defenders: Onome Ebi; Glory Ogbonna (Edo Queens); Osinachi Ohale (Madrid CFF, Spain); Mariam Ibrahim (Nasarawa Amazons); Chidinma Okeke (Madrid CFF, Spain); Habeebat Akinwande (FC Robo)
Midfielders: Rita Chikwelu (Madrid CFF, Spain); Esther Sunday (ALG SPOR, Turkey); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (Eskilstuna, Sweden); Antoinette Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain); Halimatu Ayinde (Eskilstuna, Sweden); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Patricia George (Sands FC, Germany)
Forwards: Asisat Oshoala (FC Barcelona, Spain); Uchenna Kanu (Linkopings, Sweden); Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid, Spain); Francisca Ordega; Chinwendu Ihezuo; Gift Monday (FC Robo); Charity Adule (SD Eibar, Spain)
Let us take up the cause of Desire Oparanozie. She is in form and was the last captain and is being denied a call up as punishment for fighting for her team mates when the thieves in the NFA refused to pay the girls their due. As a society, if we remain silent while the thief deprives the owners of their rights we become accomplices in the crime. #ISTANDWITHDESIREOPARANOZIE
So after desire fought for the team she Is punished by being left out of the team for national assignments but the same girls she fought for are still being called to represent the country.
If a male player does this he doesn’t lose his place in the team.