Super Falcons are gingered, and in a super positive mood ahead of Monday evening’s Group B cracker against the Republic of Ireland at Brisbane’s Lang Park, the team’s captain, Onome Ebi, said.
The 40–year–old became one of the oldest women to have been featured at the FIFA Women’s World Cup when she was introduced to the game against co-hosts Australia at the same venue on Thursday. She’s also among the few women, and the only one from the African continent, to have played in six finals, alongside Brazil’s Marta and Canada’s Christine Sinclair.
“We are very positive and looking forward to the match. The mood in camp is great and everyone is in high spirits. The win against Australia has given us the belief and the confidence to face any team. We will play for a win.
“We want Nigerians all over the world to continue to support us and believe in the team. That alone gives us great motivation. We have won one match and drawn one. We want to set the record of not losing any match in the group phase and topping our group.”
When the Super Falcons reached the knock-out rounds in the USA in 1999, the team lost to hosts the USA before defeating North Korea and Denmark to make the quarter-finals. Mercy Akide and Rita Nwadike scored in the 2-1 win over North Korea, while Akide and Nkiru Okosieme scored in the 2-0 win over Denmark.
In 2019, when they reached the Round of 16, the nine-time African champions lost 0-3 to Norway and 0-1 to hosts France, on either side of a 2-0 defeat of South Korea, with Asisat Oshoala scoring after an own goal by the Koreans.
“We know we still have a job to do; we are not deterred. We simply go in there and play for a win,” Ebi added.
On top of the pool with four points, the Falcons take on the ‘Girls in Green” on Monday night starting from 8pm Australia time (11am Nigeria time) with the Irish already eliminated from the tournament.
Co-hosts Australia will face Canada in the other group match, which will be played simultaneously. The Canadians have four points, while the Matildas have three.
With a win in mind, Nigeria could start with a forward line of record-breaker Asisat Oshoala, and Uchenna Kanu (who scored the first goal against Australia), with Rasheedat Ajibade and Ifeoma Onumonu operating from the wings.
