PEPPE NKWOCHA Clarifies Retirement Plans

Female national team, Super Falcons’ top scorer, Pepetua Nkwocha has opened up to allnigeriasoccer.com to explain recent news about an official ceremonial match to mark her retirement from active football.

With the media already awash with reports about elaborate plans for Nkwocha’s retirement testimonial, the Sweden-based former Pelican Stars of Calabar ace has refuted claims that she has already played her last game for the Falcons.

On the contrary, the four-time African Female Footballer of The Year, who currently plays for Swedish  club, Sunnanå SK, stated in an exclusive interview with allnigeriasoccer.com that she aims to bow out on a high, after hoping to lead the Falcons to another conquest of the AWC in November.

“I was initially thinking of hanging up my boots after the Olympics in London,” she admitted, “but I had to change that plan when we could not qualify.

“That is why I am now thinking of eventually calling it quit with the national team after the AWC in Equatorial Guinea. I just pray that we will be able to win the competition, so that I can bow out on a winning note,” enthused the 36-year-old lady from Ngwokpara, Imo State.

To this end, Nkwocha is expected don Nigeria’s green-and-white at the 8th African Women Championship, which is billed to run from the 28th of October to 11th of November in Equatorial Guinea.

She will expectedly again be one of the shinning stars when seven time champions and current holders Nigeria open their title defence against Cameroon at Nkoantoma Stadium in Bata on the 29th of October, while fellow-Group B mates, Cote d’Ivoire and Ethiopia clash in the second match also in Bata.

This year’s hosts and losing finalists from the 2010 edition, Equatorial Guinea will get the championship underway against South Africa in the opening match at Nouveau Stade in Malabo; while Senegal and DR Congo will play the second match afterwards in the same stadium.

Kenec Alexander