Super Falcons of Nigeria duo Chiamaka Nnadozie and Desire Oparanozie skipped the team’s training session on Monday ahead of Thursday’s crucial FIFA Women’s World Cup match against Australia.
Nnadozie played the full duration of the 0-0 draw against Canada on Thursday and was named Woman of the Match following her penalty saving heroics, but striker Oparanozie missed the game due to injury.
As the team continue their buildup to Thursday’s match against co-hosts Australia in Brisbane, www.aclsports.com gathered that twenty-one out of the twenty-three players took part in the full session with the exception of Nnadozie and Oparanozie.
The Nigeria Football Federation reported on Monday afternoon that Nnadozie, who had a strap around her knee during the last match was given the session off by Nigeria’s technical crew led by Randy Waldrum “perhaps to relax her nerves” while Oparanozie trained on her own.
While Nnadozie, who also wore the captain’s armband against Canada is expected to start between the sticks in the match against Australia, Oparanozie remains a doubt after the calf strain she copped on the eve of the last match.
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Nigeria will however be able to call on midfielders Halimatu Ayinde and Rasheedat Ajibade for Thursday’s game after both players missed the draw with Canada due to card suspension after their red cards in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) semi-final loss to Morocco.
Their presence is expected to effectively mitigate the conspicuous absence of midfield trojan Deborah Abiodun who was sent off in stoppage time against the North Americans after a hugely impressive World Cup debut.
Nigeria remain the only African nation to have mustered a point after their first round of matches at the ongoing FIFA Women’s World. The Super Falcons will face Australia at the Lang Park in Brisbane starting from 11:00am Nigerian time on Thursday.
