Super Falcons coach Randy Waldrum has called up Utah Royals star Ifeoma Onumonu to replace the injured Halimatu Ayinde ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Soccernet.ng reports.
Nigeria will be looking to make a statement when they play in the women’s football competiton of the Paris Olympics later this month.
Recall that ahead of the competition, coach Waldrum revealed his squad of 18 players, while four players were put on the stand-by list. Experienced midfield general Halimatu Ayinde was part of the 18-woman list that was initially released.
However, just a day after the list was announced, Ayinde shared a post on social media, revealing that she was injured and would not be available for the tournament.
Following that development, Waldrum has now named Ayinde’s replacement. Per the Super Falcons’ X page, Onumonu will now replace Ayinde on the team.
The Utah Royals forward also has some experience playing for the Super Falcons. She nade her debut for the nine-time African champions in 2021, and she has played at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup.
Onumomu has spent all her life in the United States of America. She has played for clubs like Boston Breakers Portland Thorns, Reign FC, and Gotham FC. The 30-year-old forward just moved to her current club Gotham FC this year.
Good decision by the technical team.
This will give super falcons room to meet up with their opponent tempo in every of their single game provided good selection and timely substitution is rightly done