Nine-Time African champions, Super Falcons of Nigeria, are in the United States of America (U.S.) on a two-match tour with the country’s women national team. The first of the two matches holds at the Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, on September 3.
Both teams, who have qualified for next year’s 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 September 6.
Coach Randy Waldrum has picked four members of Nigeria’s girls that reached the quarterfinals at the just-concluded FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica. They are 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 Children’s Mercy Park is home to Kansas City in the U.S. National Women’s Soccer League and Sporting Kansas City in the Major League Soccer, while Audi Field is utilised by National Women’s Soccer League side, Washington Spirit and Major League Soccer team, D. C. United.
The match in Kansas City will see Vlatko 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.
Andonovski says he’s excited to send out his girls against the Super Falcons: “First, I’m just excited to play two matches against Nigeria. They have some very talented players who will present a lot of different problems for us to solve on both sides of the ball.”
