Super Falcons football coach Kadiri Ikhana will consider six overseas players for an African Women’s Championship qualifier against Zimbabwe, but that does not worry Mighty Warriors coach Rosemary Mugadza at all.
Last week, Ikhana invited 53 players for the first phase of a training camp in Abuja, which ends on April 24. Said Mugadza: “We cannot be measured by the performance of our junior side. Nigeria beat the Young Mighty Warriors, but it will be very unwise for them to use that as a yardstick to gauge us.
“I’m aware that the bulk of the players that played against the Young Mighty Warriors make up their senior side so we know how to prepare,” said Mugadza.
The Super Falconets had Desire Oparanozie, Esther Sunday, Ebere Orji, Josephine Chukwunonye, veteran Perpetua Nkwocha, Francisca Ordega and Gloria Ofoegbu, the players that also play for the Super Falcons. The group were part of the Nigeria squad that reached the Fifa U-20 Women World Cup finals in 2010 before representing their nation again at the Women Senior World Cup in Germany last year.
“We can match them but it will depend on how the players conduct themselves on match day,” said Mugadza.
The Young Mighty Warriors had Rudo Neshamba, Danai Bhobho, Rufaro Machingura, Emmaculate Msipa and Rutendo Makore, all regular players in the senior side.
The Mighty Warriors team, minus the five that played last Sunday, trooped into camp last Saturday to begin preparations for the match. Talent Mavhetesa, Viola Ndlovu, Rejoice Zhanje, Sharon Myasondo and Celo Dube are the new faces that have been called into camp while Lilian Masase, who has been in Norway for studies, has bounced back into the team.
