Twenty-one Super Falcons players are in Australia ahead of the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which holds in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20.
Our correspondent learnt only forward Francisca Ordega and midfielder Halimatu Ayinde are the only players yet to arrive camp as coach Randy Waldrum’s squad beginning preparations for the showpiece after a truncated camping exercise in Abuja.
In a tweet on the Falcons handle, 21 players are already in camp with the pair expected.
“Camp Updates! 21 players are currently in Gold Coast, Australia, for our training preparations for the @FIFAWWC.
Still expected are Halimatu Ayinde and Francisca Ordega.”
The Falcons are lodged at the four-star Mercure Southport, Gold Coast, Australia.
Mercure Southport is a newly built resort on the Gold Coast, incorporating 160 rooms with quality midscale accommodation.
It features a restaurant, bar, fitness centre and modern swimming pool for guests.
It also provides events and meeting space for local businesses and community groups through two conference rooms and an additional meeting room. The hotel, located in the heart of Southport, close to the waterfront and Australia Fair Shopping Centre.
“We are domiciled at the Mercure Hotels, Gold Coast, Australia for our training tour ahead of the World Cup,” Falcons media officer Oluchi Tobechukwu wrote on her WhatsApp status on Wednesday.
In another post, Tobechukwu posted, “Super Falcons have settled down in Gold Coast where they are domiciled for their training tour ahead of the world cup in Australia. Gold Coast is one hour drive from Brisbane.”
The nine-time African champions, who arrived Australia on Tuesday, will face co-hosts Australia, reigning Olympic queens Canada and the Republic of Ireland in Group B of the World Cup.
Waldrum’s team will continue their proud distinction of appearing at every edition of the competition since they first qualified for the inaugural tournament in 1991.
The Falcons have reached the knockout phase twice in 1999 and in 2019.
At USA 1999, they upset Korea DPR and Denmark before losing one of the greatest games in the competition’s history, with Sissi’s Golden Goal edging a seven-goal thriller for Brazil in the quarter-finals.
At France 2019, striker Asisat Oshoala inspired the Falcons to a 2-0 victory over Korea Republic to seal a round of 16 spot, where they lost 3-0 to Germany.
