As a huge fan of Esther Onyenezide and Opeyemi Ajakaye, the news of their transfer to Madrid CFF in the Spanish top flight is gladdening news to me.
The two recent exceptional U17 (Ajakaiye) and U20 (Onyenezide) players linked up with Madrid CFF from Nigeria Women’s Football League outfit, Robo Queens on lucrative deals that is sure to broaden their football horizons.
Onyenezide is a force of nature midfield with her movements and distributions with Ajakaiye being a piercing harpoon in any opposition box 18 concerning her keen eyes for goal.
However, will this move fast track their ascension to the Super Falcons?
Well they have both earned Super Falcons invites but I think their progression has inexplicably been at snail's speed when you consider their immense skills and artistry.
They get invited only to manage meagre minutes on the pitch on romance the bench.
It now remains to be seen if indeed their Super Falcons fortunes will blossom now that they are in the promised land of club football in Europe.
Their Under-20 colleague Mercy Idoko - an exquisite and dynamic striker - has been in Europe for quite a while but has failed to receive a Super Falcons invitation letter. Flourish Sebastian - a supersonic jet of a winger - as well struggles to break into the Super Falcons fold even after going to Europe (though she might be injured currently).
In the days of Oparanozie, Ordega and Ayinde, the Falconets easily walk into the Super Falcons team as if it was their birthright.
But these days, increased competition from eligible dual nationality players and a few indigenous players who didn't go through the Falconets and Flamingos Polytechnics have restricted their transitions.
The presence of players like Rinsola Babajide, Ifeoma Onumonu, Toni Payne and Ashleigh Plumptre will make it harder or slower for Mercy Idoko and Esther Onyenezide to find their Super Falcons feet after all, who will bench Payne for Onyenezide, Michelle Alozie for Jumoke Alani or Rinsola Babajide for Sebastian?
But, it will be disingenuous and downright inaccurate to suggest that Falconets and Flamingos are not being fast tracked into the Super Falcons. At least 3 recent Falconets were blooded into the team for the last world cup with 1 of them becoming an instant sensation (Deborah Abiodun).
But in years gone by, a healthy chunk of 2022 Flamingoes and Falconets would have formed the crux of the Super Falcons to the 2023 World Cup because those ladies (particularly Chris Danjuma's Falconets) were good. But Nigeria just has a far more technical pool of indigenous and dual nationality players to pick from these days.
Little wonder we had our best World Cup outing in decades.
So, as ecstatic as I am about the laudable transfers of Onyenezide and Ajakaye to Spain, I would not be surprised if they get overlooked for Super Falcons Afcon and Olympic Qualifiers this year.
How times have changed!