Introducing Marie Okoroh: SpVg Aurich's dual-national central defender eligible for Nigeria

With the Super Falcons facing a shortage of center-backs, a potential solution may have emerged in 17-year-old Marie Okoroh, a defender currently playing for SpVg Aurich. 

Born in 2007, she qualifies to represent Nigeria internationally through her father.

The promising teenager wore the colours of TSV Steinbach and JSG Kalteiche before she was poached by SpVg Aurich in 2021.

Okoroh, who captained Aurich's U17 team to the semi-finals of the German football championships, is a product of the club's youth system.

Despite her team's valiant run to that stage of the competition, they succumbed to a loss on aggregate after two legs against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Okoroh is uncapped by Germany's national team selections at any level, meaning she can play for the Nigeria teams without requesting a change of association.  

A commanding central defender, with an imposing physique that could pose aerial threats to her opponents from resulting set-pieces, time is of the essence for the Nigerian Football Federation.

There's no question about her ability, giving Germany a major incentive to act quickly before Nigeria can.

In the present Super Falcons set-up, her addition would mean that she would be mentored by veteran Osinachi Ohale and Galatasaray's Tosin Demehin, with the prospects of forming a defensive partnership with the later in future, should she break into the squad.

Ejim Kaycee

Photo Credit: spvgaurich.de

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