CostaRica 2022: 27 Falconets players arrive football camp ahead of qualifiers 

The Falconets’ head coach, Christopher Danjuma, on Tuesday said 27 of the invited 35 players have arrived at the national under-20 women’s football team camp in Abuja. 

Danjuma told NAN in Abuja that two foreign-based players, one from Denmark and the other from England, were also expected to join the camp shortly.

The camp was open ahead of the upcoming African Qualifiers for the 10th FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica from Aug. 10 to Aug. 28, 2022.

The coach explained that the invited players were mostly coming from clubs in the country’s leagues, with several coming from the under-17 cadre.

“Most of the players were taken from clubs which played in the NWFL Super Six and Aiteo Cup finals, and I think we are still picking the best of the best according to our ability,” he said.

Danjuma however noted that the players’ performance has been good. \

“We have a very young team, and our girls have been doing very well in their various leagues.”

This event will help to make the popularity of football betting in Nigeria, as well as the increase in the number of players that appeared on the global scene stage.

“These players are ready to work hard with determination and a display of talents that will make them reach the top of their career.”

He stated that his team was now not facing any challenge.

“The Federation is basically doing well. The accommodation is conducive, and so far, there are no complaints yet from any of the players. They are well relaxed to bring out the best in them.

“Also, with the way we are going with the set of players called to camp, these are the set of players that we will develop as the competition keeps growing on, and they are the group of players that will be a revolution in Nigerian football,’’ Danjuma said.

He pointed out that the technical crew has like four weeks to train and camp the players and he and his colleagues would strive to achieve their aim.

“Our players are good. So, we will do our best to play to our strength. We will not underrate any country. But Nigeria has what it takes to come out victorious against other teams. ‘“We will start playing friendly matches from Saturday.

“We are still deciding, to know which teams we are going to play against, but we are going to start intensifying efforts to play against the teams around the FCT,’’ the coach said.

NAN reports that the Falconets have drawn bye into the second round where they will face the Central African Republic (CAR).

Nigeria has qualified for the World Cup nine times and has finished as runners-up on two occasions (2010 and 2014), and the quarterfinals four times (2004, 2006, 2008, and 2018).

They also finished fourth in 2012 and did not go past the group stage in 2002 and 2016.

Sixtus Omokhagbor, an Edo Government official, on Tuesday said the invitation of five Edo Queens players to the Falconets’ camp was a justification of the state’s investment in sports.

Omokhagbor, who is an aide on sports to Philip Shaibu, the Edo deputy governor, said the development underscored the current administration’s level of commitment to sports development.

“Government is not only excited with the invitation extended to the five players of the state-owned female football club, but it is happy that it has also showed that investment in sports by the current administration is paying off,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin.

“We are indeed happy with the invitation, and it is also a testament that what the government is doing in the area of sports development is bringing in results.”

Omokhagbor recalled that since the inception of the Godwin Obaseki-led administration, the state has invested so much in the sports sector.

“This is intended to bring back the lost glory of the state in sports. “Aside the remodeling of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, some mini stadiums have also been built in parts of the state, and these are all in a bid to encourage grassroots participation in sports.

“The two government-owned football clubs, Bendel Insurance and Edo Queens have also been rebranded. The players’ salaries have been improved upon while they have also been receiving same as at when due.

“So, the result of this is part of what we are talking about. This invitation of five players to the camp of the national under-20 female team is indeed heart-gladdening and we can only hope that they make the final team,” he stated.

NAN reports that the five Edo Queens players are: Shukurat Barakat, Flourish Sebastine, Jumoke Alani, Yemisi Samuel and Omowunmi Oshobukola.