Canada 2015: Nkwocha dropped from World Cup

Super Falcons Chief Coach, Edwin Okon, has dropped Africa’s most celebrated female player, Perpetua Nkwocha, from the final list of players that would compete in Nigeria’s colours at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada which kicks off on June 6.
Nkwocha, 39, is a four-time African Women Footballer of the Year who has participated in three straight World Cup outings in 2003, 2007 and 2011.
Her hopes of making a fourth World Cup appearance was dashed as the coach opted for younger players in keeping with his philosophy of building team for the future.
The Super Falcons’ team, captained by Evelyn Nwabuoku, is largely filled with members of the 2014 African Women Championship winning team, including the reigning African Women Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala.
Nigeria have been drawn in the tournament’s toughest group alongside two-time winners, the United States (U.S.), Sweden and Australia in Group D for the Women’s World Cup that will take place between June 6 and July 5.
The team departed for Canada on Tuesday night from the Abuja airport via Paris to connect to Toronto.
The duo of Nwabuoku of Biik Kazygut and Francesca Ordega of Washington Spirits have been scheduled to join up with the team in Canada from their respective bases in Kazakhstan and the United States (U.S.).
The African champions will play a friendly match against the senior women’s national team of Canada on May 25 – the same day the Falcons coach is expected to release his final 23 squad for the World Cup.
The Super Falcons will play their opening game of the competition against Sweden in Winnipeg on June 8, before taking on Australia at the same venue and then U.S. in Vancouver.