TheCable

Barely 48 hours to the commencement of the 10th edition of the Women Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, the Super Falcons of Nigeria now have a new team captain.

Rita Chikwelu, the Umea IK Swedish Damallsvenskan player, replaced the former captain, Evelyn Nwabuoku of French club, En Avant de Guingamp, who was ruled out due to injury.

The 28-year-old attacking midfielder made her senior national team debut in 2007 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in China.

Florence Omagbemi, the head coach of the Super Falcons said:”Ladies, you all know why the captain is not here with us, so we will be needing someone else to fill in for her in this competition.

“Alongside my assistants, we have decided to pick Rita Chikwelu to be the captain and Osinachi Ohale as the assistant. And I want you all to co-operate with them and work together as a team.”

Chikwelu was a member of the Nigerian Olympic team that participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics in China and a member of the Nigerian squad at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany.

The Falcons start their defence of the continental title on Sunday, when they clash with the senior women national team of Mali in the opening match of Group B at the Stade Municipal de Limbe.