Super Falcons camp update: Oshoala, Okoronkwo hand Waldrum huge boost ahead of South Africa clash

Asisat Oshoala has finally joined the Super Falcons camp as Nigeria prepare to trade tackles with South Africa at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Friday, Soccernet.ng reports.

Both teams are battling to secure one of the tickets to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, with the winner of this two-legged tie joining Brazil, Japan, and world champions Spain in Group C in the eight-team tournament in Paris in July and August.

Nigeria’s preparation for this crucial decider has been far from ideal, with only three players, including captain Rasheedat Ajibade, available when the team’s camp opened on Monday. South Africa’s Banyana Banyana have been in Nigeria since Sunday, March 31st.

By Wednesday, only 19 players were available for coach Randy Waldrum to work with, following the arrival of Ifeoma Onumonu. Still, the team had to forfeit their scheduled evening training.

However, coach Waldrum would be delighted to finally have all the 22 players he invited at his disposal following the arrival of Oshoala and two others early on Thursday morning.

The Bay FC striker arrived in camp alongside exciting forward Esther Okoronkwo and Chinwendu Ihezuo.

Six-time CAF Africa Women’s Player of the Year Oshoala will be one of the key players the Super Falcons will be counting on to wreck the South Africans on Friday.

Esther Okoronkwo, who scored Nigeria’s only goal in the aggregate victory over Cameroon in the last round, will also look to make an impact against the Banyana. 

Nigeria, a constant feature at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, have not been to the Olympics since 2008, missing the London 2012, Rio 2016, and Tokyo 2020. 

NB: Can the Super Falcons beat South Africa in Abuja despite their less-than-ideal preparations? League your comments below.