Former African Female Player of the Year Perpetua Nkwocha and goalkeeper Precious Dede are in the list of players selected to represent Nigeria at the 2007 FIFA Women World Cup, which begins in Beijing, China, from September 10 to 30.

 

According to the list, other players in the team are Tochukwu Oluehi and Rachael Aladi Ayegba, who are joined by Efioanwan Ekpo; Ayisat Yusuf; Onome Ebi; Gift Otuwe; Stella Mbachu and Ifeanyichukwu Chiejine.

 

Also in the team are Ogonna Chukwudi; Rita Chikwelu; Chichi Igbo; Christie George; Faith Ikidi; Maureen Mmadu; Ulumma Jerome; Yinka Kudaisi; Cynthia Uwak; Lilian Cole and Maureen Eke.

 

The Falcons will fly out of their training camp in Germany tomorrow and will land in China on Wednesday evening.

 

The Nigerians will play their first match of the competition against last tournament's runners-up Sweden, in Chengdu on September 11, and tackle DPR Korea, whose junior team won the FIFA Junior World Cup in Russia last year, in the same city three days later. The Falcons' last group phase match is against the United States in Shanghai on September 17.

 

The heart appears to have been ripped out of the Super Falcons just nine days to their opening match of the FIFA Women's World Cup after experienced skipper Kikelomo Ajayi and forward Vera Okolo were forced to pull out with injuries.

 

Ajayi, a no-nonsense defender, pulled a back muscle during training in Germany while Okolo has failed to recover from a knee injury picked up during the All Africa Games in July.

 

The defender, who inherited the captain's armband from Florence Omagbemi said she would not be available.

 

Ajayi is the most experienced player in the squad, having played in three FIFA Women World Cup, five African Women Championships and two Olympic Games, and her absence will come as a major blow to coach Ntiero Effiom.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 3, 2007)