Olympic roster controversy: Ordega speaks out, shares conversation with Super Falcons coach Waldrum 

CSKA Moscow striker Francisca Ordega has moved quickly to deny viral reports in the local media claiming that she is trying to secure a spot in the Super Falcons 2024 Olympics squad by force. 

There were allegations that two senior officials of the Nigeria Football Federation were attempting to pressure coach Randy Waldrum into including  Ordega in the Super Falcons squad for the women's football event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

According to the Olympic rules, each Federation is allowed to name a maximum of eighteen players on the roster with four alternate players. 

It was claimed that officials of the Nigerian Federation have included Ordega’s name on the list of players heading to France, without Waldrum’s knowledge.

The former Washington Spirit, Atlético Madrid and  Shanghai Shengli forward has been in the international wilderness since her substitute appearance against England at the 2023 Fifa Women's World Cup.

Ordega highlighted that she has never resorted to bribing coaches or Nigerian Federation officials to be included in the Super Falcons team, stating that her place was earned purely on merit.

The four-time World Cupper revealed that she reached out to Super Falcons coach Randy Waldrum after the reports broke and the American football tactician discredited the news of players forced on him. 

In an Instagram Live conversation with Team Nigeria UK's chief David Doherty, Oredega explained: "When I heard it yesterday I called the coach and said, 'coach, did you say this'? I have the message in my phone and coach said, 'No, Fran, I did not say this'.

"In his words he said, 'the same thing happened to me during the World Cup when people said I said stuff, negatively. I was hurt but you don't need to be hurt because I expected this'.

"It shouldn't be a new thing to me. This were his words to me because the link said they were imposing players, who is the person?"

Ordega continued: "Thank God he said it's not true, nobody is imposing players. I'm not suspecting anybody, I am not pointing fingers but in this kind of situation the Super Falcons media should be able to come out to defend the players and coach but they are not coming out to defend anybody which is very wrong.

"I have not even seen the list, I don't even know if my name is there or not. It's everybody's dream to be at the Olympics but if the coach said I'm not going to be there, so be it. He has his reasons.

"I will be sad but that won't change the fact that I'm doing well for my team, I'm the third highest goalscorer in my team (league) as we speak."

The Super Falcons have been placed in a tough looking Group C at the 2024 Olympic Games, alongside world champions Spain, Japan and Brazil. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit: Just Photos

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