By Victor Kanayo
Nigeria’s Super Falcons have arrived the United States of America on a two-match tour with the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) with the first of the two matches taking place at the Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas on Saturday September 3, 2022.
The Nigerian team is without top Barcelona star and reigning African footballer of the year Asisat Oshoala who is just returning from injury she sustained at the 2022 Women African Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Heritage Times HT reports that Super Falcons have remained number one women team in the continent despite shambolic display at WAFCON where they crashed out in the semi-final and were beaten in the third place match.
Both teams, who have qualified for 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand, will have a go at each other’s jugular once more at the Audi Field in Washington, D. C. on Tuesday September 6.
Coach Randy Waldrum has picked four members of Nigeria’s U20 girls that reached the quarter finals at the just-concluded FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica, namely defenders Oluwatosin Demehin and Rofiat Imuran, and midfielders Esther Onyenezide and Deborah Abiodun.
Home-based professionals – Christy Ohiaeriaku, Akudo Ogbonna and Gift Monday are also in the delegation.
First-choice goalkeeper – Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Osinachi Ohale, midfielder – Toni Payne and forwards Rasheedat Ajibade and Uchenna Kanu will provide the spine for an interesting Nigeria selection.
The USWNT is the most successful team in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, having won four of all eight championships competed for so far.
The Stars & Stripes were champions of the very first edition in China in 1991, and then won on home soil in 1999, in Canada in 2015 and in France three years ago.
The team has also won four Olympic women’s football gold medals and eight CONCACAF titles.
On the other hand, the Super Falcons have won the Women Africa Cup of Nations nine times, played in every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and also played at the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympic women’s football tournament. They remain the most successful women’s team on the African continent.
The Children’s Mercy Park is home to Kansas City in the US National Women’s Soccer League and Sporting Kansas City in the Major League Soccer, while Audi Field is utilized by National Women’s Soccer League side Washington Spirit and Major League Soccer team, D. C. United.
The match in Kansas City will seeVlatko Andonovski, appointed Coach of USWNT at the end of 2019, return to his home area for the second time.
It is the sixth time that the USWNT will be playing at the Children’s Mercy Park but it is their first time at the Audi Field, though they have played 10 times previously in Washington – all at the RFK Stadium.
