Is Desire Oparanozie Being Witchunt? - Fans Say it's All About Football Politics

 

Super Falcons coach Randy Waldrum dropped former captain of the side Desire Oparanozie from the list of players for the friendly tournament in Turkey despite her sterling performances for Dijon in the French league. Punch Newspapers Set up An Opinion Poll and many football stakeholders raised their eye brow on the matter

Oparanozie deserved not to be removed from the Super Falcons. The fact remains that in Nigeria today, when you try to show that something is wrong, they deny you your rights. It is her right to play for Nigeria. Moreover, this is a girl who played for the under-20 and she is the captain of the Super Falcons. So why did they remove her from the Falcons team to Turkey?

Her removal is not justified in anyway. It’s quite unfortunate.  I am not sure Randy Waldrum drafted the team list.

In France, a street was named after Oparanozie just because she’s playing for a club side there. In Nigeria, they removed her because she led some of the players to demand for the FIFA money. It’s quite sad and I pray the NFF would make a reversal. Whoever is in charge of the team should reverse that very decision and recall her back to the team. Up untill now in the whole of Nigeria and Africa, she’s one of the best strikers that we have. That Africa has for now. That’s my opinion.

– Abdullahi Mansur, former Falconets assistant coach

The technical department of the NFF are the ones in charge of team selection along with the head coach. My thought on this issue is that Oparanozie has been the captain of the Super Falcons before Asisat Oshoala but so far she is still very active, and she has a lot to render to the Falcons, I don’t see why she should not be called up to the Falcons but truth is that the omission seem more political than technical. We know she’s not in the good books of the federation so I think that is why she’s being witch hunted a situation that is not even good for the profile of someone who has contributed so much to the Falcons over the years. It is not good at all.

- AbdulRahmon Abolore, chairman DreamStars Ladies

They stripped her of the team’s captainship as a form of demotion. As if that was not enough, they are now denying Nigerians the services of one of their current best female footballers. It’s unjust.

– Patrick Ibe, sports journalist

If she was excluded due to poor form, we will understand. She was removed as captain and now, they want to send her into early retirement just because she did what a captain should do by speaking on behalf of her team.

Even the US federation did not ban the likes of Rapinone, who took them to court demanding for equal pay for both gender.

– Tayo Adeyemo, sports journalist/consultant

“The NFF are bunch of dirty jokers. We are expecting same bu****t with the Super Eagles list where Musa (No Club) and Retired Ighalo (Saudi) will make team before young and active players in more competitive league. Oparanozie is the original captain.

- David Doherty, sports administrator, pundit

I totally disagree. The coach has not seen her play how did he know she will not be key to his team? She is active with her club. There are some who do not play but get invited. There is more to this.

– Femi Farawe, Sports journalist

For protecting the interest of the team as captain she was omitted to deter others from standing their grounds. The coach will be ruining his reputation listening to the NFF for team selection. There is no better striker at the minute in the team, none. Every Super Falcons player must stand up for captain Desire. She fought for your rights. To keep quiet and allow this rubbish from the NFF is betrayal… Remember your time will come too. Whatever you sow shall you reap.

- Ikechukwu @Ike_chike, sports pundit