Super Falcons duo of Asisat Oshoala and Francesca Ordega both failed to make into the all-stars’ squad of the 11th African Women Cup of Nations, sports247.ng reports.
Oshoala appeared a doubt all along, following her poor form in front of goal, despite a hat-trick against Equatorial Guinea, and she lost a crucial penalty during the final.
On the other hand, Ordega looked good to make the cut, only to miss out eventually in the face of stiff opposition from South African and Cameroon players, who were obviously the main individual attractions at the tournament.
However, while Oshola and Ordega dropped to the all-stars’ bench, veteran defender and alternate captain, Onome Ebi and goalkeeper, Tochukwu Oluehi make the starting list.
Oluehi and Ebi retained their places in the main selection but another Falcons’ striker, Desire Oparanozie, who was in the first round team selection, was left out altogether in the final all-stars’ roster.
The Guingamp of France striker, who was match winner when Nigeria won an eighth AWCON at the expense of hosts Cameroon, was also missing for the Falcons line-up in Saturday’s final against South Africa due to injury.
Consequently, Oshoala, Ordega and Oparanozie could face a Herculean task in the race for this year’s CAF Women’s Footballer of the Year.
South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana, who was both 2018 AWCON MVP and top scorer, will now be hot favourite to topple Oshoala as the best African player for the outgoing year.
AWCON 2018 Best XI – Goalkeeper: Tochukwu Oluehi (Nigeria); Defenders: Lebohang Ramalepe (South Africa), Janine Van Wyk (South Africa), Onome Ebi (Nigeria), Claudine Meffometou Tcheno (Cameroon); Midfielders: Raissa Feudjio (Cameroon), Marlyse Ngo Ndoumbouk (Cameroon), Elizabeth Addo (Ghana); Forwards: Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene (Cameroon), Chrestinah Thembi Kgatlana (South Africa), Bassira Toure (Mali); Substitutes: Kaylin Swart (South Africa), Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria), Linda Motlhalo (South Africa), Genevieve Ngo Mbeleck (Cameroon), Francisa Ordega (Nigeria), Fatoumata Diarra (Mali).
