Thirty-nine players have began training in Abuja in preparation for the qualifiers for this year’s FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in India, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said on Thursday.
Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communications, disclosed in a statement that a full house of the invited playing body was on ground at the team’s camp at Bluespring Hotel in Abuja.
“The group’s twice-a-day training sessions have also intensified at NFF’s FIFA Goal Project facility inside the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Complex,’’ he said.
The 2020 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup finals will be the seventh since the competition was launched in New Zealand in 2008.
Nigeria has participated at all five tournaments between 2008 and 2016 but narrowly failed to qualify for the 2018 edition held in Uruguay.
This was after losing to Cameroon on the away goal rule in the final lap of the qualification series.
Olajire disclosed that the players invited to the Abuja camp include Augustina Unamba, Nelly Chukwuebuka, Damilola Amole, Nwacke Odinaka, Favour Edwin, Perpetua Osinachi, Chidinma Ogbuchi, Onumeze Shadrack and Linda Nnaocha.
“Others are Chinyere Kalu, Miracle Ohaneri, Precious Taiwo, Mary Nwakwolam, Chinyere Ihuoma, Idowu Kuku, Uluoma Onwere, Blessing Green, Maryam Abdulkabir and Motunrayo Yusuf.
“Also invited are Olushola Shobowale, Deborah Abiodun, Amarachi Odoma, Esther Inyang, Rofiat Imuran, Ireti Eretan, Dahz Alvin, Foluke Opeyori, Esther Onyenezide and Damilola Oladipo.’’
He listed the rest as Ogechi James, Zepere Azama, Hannah Yusuf, Oluchi Okwara, Opeyemi Ajakaye, Kelechi Chukwumalem, Temilope Owoeye, Jumoke Alani, Yemisi Samuel and Deborah Abiodun.
The NFF spokesman also disclosed that the federation’s General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, had on Thursday given the team’s coaches some words of advice on their task.
He said Sanusi had charged them to place as much premium on good conduct, excellent character and level-headedness as on-field ability in their final selection of players for the team.
Olajire stated that Sanusi spoke when he received the crew of assistant coaches Bankole Olowookere (assistant coach 1), Queendoleen Akpan (assistant coach 2) and Mohammed Ndanusa (goalkeepers’ trainer) at the NFF Secretariat.
“Good character and demeanour, as well as comportment showing good upbringing and sense of purpose, are as important as ability in any profession, football inclusive.
“Anyone who lacks good character and discipline cannot succeed in any endeavour. You must take these to heart as you prepare the girls for the challenges ahead.
“Nigeria has an impressive record in the history of the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, but we expect you to do even better than your predecessors.
“I congratulate you on your appointment and I assure you that the NFF will give you maximum support to succeed in the job,” Sanusi was quoted as saying.
The crew had began work on selecting the squad which will face Guinea in a qualifying fixture early next month.
The first leg will hold in Conakry on March 1, while the return leg in Nigeria will hold a fortnight after.
The Guineans had edged out neighbours Guinea Bissau in the preliminary round.(NAN).
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