Spanish Liga F club Unión Deportiva Granadilla Tenerife have welcomed Gift Monday and Esther Okoronkwo back to the team after the two girls’ exertions at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Soccernet.ng reports.
Monday and Okoronkwo were key members of the Super Falcons squad that reached the knockout stage of the Mundial in Australia and New Zealand.
Nigeria lost on penalties to England in the round of 16 to crash out of the tournament.
But that premature exit took nothing away from the Falcons’ excellent displays in losing none of their four games in regulation time.
Okoronkwo made two appearances, while Monday made one showing, all from the bench at the World Cup.
The two Nigeria internationals returned to join UDG Tenerife in Tafalla, where preseason preparations are in full gear.
And the club celebrated the girls’ return as portrayed in a video posted on their official social media channels on Friday.
https://twitter.com/UDGTenerife/status/1692639275639050368
In Okoronkwo and Monday’s absence, UDG Tenerife have played three friendly matches in August, beating Femarguín and Athletic Club while drawing 2-2 with Celtic.
UDG Tenerife are scheduled to trade tackles with Real Sociedad in another friendly at the Campo de Fútbol Fandería today, Saturday 19. It is a game that may come too soon for Okoronkwo and Monday.
Monday made 19 league appearances for the coach José Ángel Herrera-tutored side last season as the club finished in a respectable 6th position on the Liga F table. The 21-year-old joined the club in September 2022 from Nigerian side Rivers Angels.
Okoronkwo only signed Tenerife in June after helping French lower league side Saint-Étienne gain promotion to the top division.
UDG Tenerife will kick off their 2023/24 Primera División Femenina campaign on September 8 with an away clash with Sevilla.
The last time the two teams faced each other in May, Monday was on the scoresheet as Tenerife powered to a 3-1 win.
