Super Falcons coach, Edwin Okon has said he is yet to discover a replacement for veteran pacy right winger, Stella Mbachu.
Mbachu is among the 30 players named for the African Women's Championship (AWC) qualifying match against the Leone Queens of Sierra Leone on February 14 at the Abuja National Stadium.
Okon said the Rivers Angels forward has been consistent despite her age because the younger ones have failed to outshine her in the position.
“I don't have a replacement for Stella Mbachu both at club and national level, I’ve always challenged the younger ones to retire her from the national team with their performances but Mbachu keeps getting better and stronger by the day.
“Though my wish is to get a quick replacement as she can’t play football forever, I’ve few players pencilled down as possible replacement but they’re somehow slow in coming through.
“I’ve the Rivers Angels duo of Mercy Amanze and Aminat Yakubu as well as Sunshine Queens’ Yetunde Aluko, the trio have speed but the ball sense is yet to reach the desired level.
“We believe with time we’ll break the monopoly Mbachu is enjoying at the moment once we get quality players who will rival her in the position.
“We don’t have similar headache in other positions from goalkeeping to defence to midfield. We’ve several players who can quickly fit into any of the positions,” Okon said to supersport.com.
The six-time African champions are expected to resume camp on January 13 to begin preparations for the AWC first leg fixture against Sierra Leone in Abuja on February 14.
The second fixture will hold in a fortnight in Freetown, Sierra Leone as the aggregate winners will inch closer to qualifying for the 2014 AWC in Namibia which doubles as qualifiers for the 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Canada. The finalists at the football showpiece will qualify to represent Africa at the global football fiesta
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