Uzodimma redeems N30m pledge to 6 Falcons’ players

Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma has redeemed his pledge of N30m to six Super Falcons players from Imo players who participated in the 2022 Africa Women’s Championship (AWCON)in Morocco.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Oguwike Nwachuku, in Owerri.

Uzodimma had pledged N5 million for each of the players when they paid him a courtesy call at the Government House Owerri.

The players are Desire Okparanozie, Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, Vivian Ikechukwu, Goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi,  Ohale Osinachi and U.S.-born Michelle Alozie.

Uzodinma said that he was particularly touched by the display of football artistry exhibited by the women folk against their Morrocan competitors.

 “The six women not only did Nigeria proud but also Imo where they hail from,” the governor said.

He congratulated the Super Falcons for also qualifying for the Women’s World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to Aug. 20.

On July 19, 2022, theAtlas Lionesses of Morocco beat the Super Falcons 5-4 on penalties to reach the final of the AWCON.

In the keenly contested encounter at the Moulay Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, the North Africans dashed the Nigerian ladies’ hopes of winning the trophy for a record tenth time.

The first 45 minutes was cagey and enterprising but ended goalless.

Both teams, however, started the second half with increased vitality and a desire to score goals.

Three minutes into the second half, Nigeria’s Halimat Ayinde was given her marching orders after getting a red card.

Uchenna Kanu, however, broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute from a scramble within the opposition goal post to put Nigeria ahead.

Four minutes after Kanu’s goal, Morocco leveled up from a defensive blunder by the Falcons back line.

Rasheedat Ajibade, the heroine of the quarter-final game against Cameroon, was thereafter sent off for a second yellow card offence to reduce the Nigerian team’s workforce to nine.

In spite of the red cards, the Falcons refused to let their guard down.

After adding six minutes to regulation time, the game went into extra time.