Veteran Super Falcons versatile midfielder Ngozi Okobi has spoken for the first time after she was dropped from the Super Falcons squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup slated for Australia and New Zealand this summer.
Okobi who was part of the team that represented Nigeria at the 2019 edition was not included in the 23-woman list released by coach Randy Waldrum on Friday.
The omission of the midfielder came as a surprise to many Nigerian football fans online. Okobi is considered one of the most experienced players in the squad alongside Asisat Oshoala, Desire Oparanozie, Onome Ebi, and Halimatu Ayinde among a host of other players in the team.
While addressing questions on her surprise exclusion from the team on Twitter, Ngozi Okobi said she is “healthy and fit.” She also added that she is not pregnant as well.
If there was anything I’ll say it to everyone, I am not pregnant nighters am I injured. Am healthy and fit 💯%
— ngozi okobi (@NgoziOkobi) June 17, 2023
A few hours later, she posted her emotional message on her Twitter page to show her appreciation for the love and support she has gotten in the last few hours since the list was released.
The more tag notifications I get on my phone the more I keep crying 😭. What a show of love, I know am always underrated by the people I work with, I never knew my fans, family and love once still believe in me. Thank you all
— ngozi okobi (@NgoziOkobi) June 17, 2023
It’s broken to be left out but what can I do, NOTHING.
Ngozi Okobi is a four-time Africa Women’s Championship having won the tournament in 2010, 2014, 2016, and 2018. The 29-year-old midfielder has been with the women’s national team since 2010. She scored her first goal in a 6-nil victory over Zambia at the 2014 edition of the Africa Women’s Championship.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup is slated between the 20th of July and the 20th of August, 2023. The Super Falcons are grouped alongside one of the co-hosts Australia, Canada, and the Republic of Ireland.
