AWCON 2018: Dennerby threatens to quit as NFF owes 8 month salaries
As Super Falcons begin camping ahead of the 2018 African Women Cup of Nations in Ghana, strong indications abound that their desire to post an impressive outing may run into troubled waters.
It was gathered that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) owes Super Falcons coach Thomas Dennerby eight (8) months salaries.
A source in a position to know revealed that Dennerby had indeed threatened to quit but has been prevailed upon by some officials of the Glass House to remain cool while his case is looked into. The Swede we however gathered is worried that the waiting game is taking longer than necessary.
“He is just maintaining his cool because some officials of the Glass House appealed to him. But he is not very happy about the situation and may indeed revolt if the waiting game continues,” our source said.
The Dennerby brouhaha is however not the only headache in camp, as the team travelled to their camping site in Abidjan on Tuesday dressed in mufti with some fans describing their dressing as coat of many colours.
Pictures posted on social media just before the team departed, indicates that some of the players had simple jean and shirts on, some put on basketball jersey while some others had Ankara and other outfits that were neither here nor there.
“Let’s just assume that it is true that the kits are in Abidjan, until we get there,” some of the players were quoted as saying just before departure.
Super Falcons are defending champions of the Women’s Nations cup and are eager to defend the title while coach Dernnerby is under pressure to win the title
The defending champions are in Group B along with perennial rivals, the BayanaBayana of South Africa, Shepolopolo of Zambia and Harambee Starlets of Kenya.
The Super Falcons, who are the most successful side in the history of the competition having won the title a record 10 times, will begin their campaign November 18 against the BayanaBayana of South Africa at the Cape Coast Stadium. They will take on Zambia three days later and round off the group matches with Kenya on November 24.
The top three teams from the competition will qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup to be staged in France next year.
The 2019 Africa Women’s Nations Cup will run from November 17th to December 1st.
…names Oshoala, 20 others in Falcons’ final squad
Head Coach of the Super Falcons Thomas Dennerby has named AsisatOshoala Desire Oparanoize, FransicaOrdega and 18 others in his final squad of 21 players who will fly Nigeria’s flag at the 11th Women Africa Cup of Nations finals in Ghana.
In a media statement issued by Nigerian Football Federation Communication Department, Dennerby also listed OnomeEbi and RasheedatAjibade.
The championship starts next week, with Cup holders Nigeria to contend with South Africa, Zambia and Kenya in Group B of the competition.
The eight –time champions, presently at the world –renowned Sol Beni, Abidjan (academy of 1998 African champions ASEC Mimosas FC) for an eight –day final camping, will depart for Ghana on Wednesday, 14th November.
Nigeria takes on South Africa on November 18, before matches against Zambia and Kenya in Cape Coast.
Hosts Ghana, Algeria, Mali and Cameroon will battle things out in Group A in Accra.
The 21 Final Squad
Goalkeepers: Tochukwu Oluehi (Rivers Angels); Christy Ohiaeriaku (Confluence Queens); Chiamaka Nnadozie (Rivers Angels)
Defenders: Glory Ogbonna (Ibom Angels); Sarah Nnodim (Nasarawa Amazons); NgoziEbere (Barcelona FC, Cyprus); Faith Michael (Pitea IF, Sweden); OnomeEbi (Henan Huisanhang, China); OsinachiOhale (Vaxjo DFF, Sweden); Josephine Chukwunonye (Asarum AIF, Sweden)
Midfielders: Amarachi Okoronkwo (Nasarawa Amazons); NgoziOkobi (Eskiltuna UTD, Sweden); Rita Chikwelu (Krstianstand DFF, Sweden); HalimatAyinde (Asarum AIF, Sweden)
Forwards: Anam Imo (Nasarawa Amazons); RasheedatAjibade (FC Robo Queens); AsisatOshoala (Dalian Quanjian, China); Francisca Ordega (Washington Spirit, USA); Desire Oparanozie (En Avant Guingamp, France); ChinazaUchendu (SC Braga, Portugal); ChinwenduIhezuo (BiikKazygurt, Kazakhstan).