Super Falcons’ Coach, Randy Waldrum, has drafted in Ifeoma Onumonu to replace the injured Halimatu Ayinde in his 18-woman team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which begins on July 26.
The American has also invited Regina Otu as Onumonu’s replacement in the alternate players’ list as required by the organisers of the Games.
Ayinde was injured while training with her Swedish club just before the Super Falcons embarked on a training tour of Spain ahead of Games.
Announcing her absence from the Games, Ayinde posted on her X handle: “With a heavy heart, I announce I won’t be part of the Super Falcons for the Olympics. I’m deeply grateful to FC Rosengård and my teammates for their support and love. Best of luck to my fellow Super Falcons. I’ll be cheering for you and will return stronger.”
Meanwhile, the Super Falcons have a new match/performance analyst in Poncho Serna.
Serna announced his appointment by Waldrum’s team on his X handle, where he wrote that he would be working with the Super Falcons at the Olympics as a performance analyst.
“I am very happy and excited to share this: during the Olympic Games I will be working with the Nigerian women’s team (@NGSuper_Falcons), in the area of performance analysis,” Serna posted. “When one door closes, a better one opens. To continue learning and enjoying.”
Nigeria, which is returning to the Olympics since their last outing at the Beijing 2008 edition, will take on reigning Olympic champions, Canada, in a training match in Sevilla on July 17.
They will then fly to Paris, where their first Olympics match is against Brazil on July 25. Three days later, they will face Spain in their second group game before ending their group campaign against 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup champions, Japan.
The team is currently in camp in the city of Jerez de la Frontera outside Sevilla ahead of the Olympics.
The Super Falcons are among the 87 athletes set to represent Team Nigeria in 12 Sports at the Games.
The team comprises athletics (35), women’s football (18), women’s basketball (12), wrestling (6), table tennis (4) and boxing (3).
Canoeing has two athletes, the same with weightlifting and aquatics, while cycling will feature one rider.
Ese Brume expects tough challenge at Olympics.
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