French Top-Flight Club Sign Two Falconets Defenders

French Top-Flight Club Sign Two Falconets Defenders

French Division 1 topflight club side Stade de Reims have completed the permanent signings of Nigeria defensive duo of Rofiat Imuran and Tosin Demehin, on a two-year deal with a 12-month extension option.

The French giants unveiled on Thursday the Nigerians, who joined from former Nigerian champions Rivers Angels after the Nigeria internationals finally landed in France on Tuesday.

Imuran, 18, had parted ways on mutual consent despite having a contract till December 2022, while Demehin, departed as a free agent following the expiration of her contract with the Nigerian side.

At the Port Harcourt side, Imuran and Demehin were instrumental in the team’s title success in the 2020-21 season, featuring in all matches and featured at the maiden Caf Champions League in Egypt.

Reacting to Imuran signing, Reims head coach Amandine Miquel extolled her qualities and is looking forward to seeing her excel in the French topflight in the coming days.

“Very fast, solid defensively, able to project forward..”!, Miquel described the Nigerian defender after seeing her against the France U20 team last August.

She continues: “Beyond being very fast, Rofiat also has a very interesting defensive palette, especially in one-on-one duels. His arrival is beneficial for the team and our defensive sector”.

On Demehin’s acquisition, Miquel said: “Tosin is a young player who will continue to progress and learn with us. She already has many qualities such as her combativeness, her quality of passing and her intensity in duels […] so many important assets for the team this season.

On completing her switch to the Champagne, Imuran, who will don jersey number 25, said: “Playing for your national team is a source of pride! I now turn to my performances with the Stade de Reims. Working, progressing and helping the team to aim even higher: these are my main objectives when I arrive here”.

On the part of Demehin, the Falconets captain, who takes jersey no 4, said: “I am very happy to arrive here in France and more particularly at the Stade de Reims. Discovering the French championship with my teammate in the selection is a good thing because it will allow us to adapt and progress more quickly ”.

Before their first professional moves abroad, they both enjoyed stints at Sunshine Queens and Rivers Angels in Nigeria and starred for the Falconets at the African qualifiers for the U20 Women’s World Cup.

At international level, Imuran and Demehim made impactful outings at the 2022 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup before earning deserved graduations to the senior team, while the former made her debut against the United States in September, it was the fourth for the latter in all competitions.

She becomes the second and third Falconets’ members at the August 2022 U20 Women’s World Cup to seal a deal after the tournament in Costa Rica following striker Mercy Idoko to Isreal’s Hapoel Jerusalem.

The Nigerian duo will be eager to make early start to life in France when Reims face Chiamaka Nnadozie’s Paris in topflight encounter on Friday, despite only training with the rest of the team from Wednesday.

-SavidNews