Onome Ebi has said that the Super Falcons are ready to take their final group challenge against Republic of Ireland today as Group B final match at the ongoing 2023 FIFA Women World Cup takes place.
This is as Kadiri Ikhana, former coach of the Super Falcons, has thrown his weight behind the serial African champions to go past the already eliminated Europeans.
Currently on four points, same as Canada, Nigeria is on top of Group B on the strength of number of goals scored after they overcame co-host, Australia, 3-2 in the match-day two and the former African champions will require a draw to be fully assured of passage into the round of 16 and Ikhana, the former coach of the team and also former CAF Coach of the Year in 2004 when he led Enyimba to win Nigeria’s first CAF Champions League title, said he was sure the team would do it against the eliminated side.
“I have always told you that they will do well; I see hunger in the team and I am not surprised that they are doing well,” he told our correspondent.
“Ireland are eliminated but they are not going to throw the game away but I can also tell you that their hunger for win won’t be as if they have something they are fighting for.
“They will play but Nigeria will get the result they need to continue in the competition; that I am sure of. I have faith in them to get the result,” he said.
On her own, Onome Ebi, the captain of Super Falcons, said they are in positive mood ahead of today’s game.
“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 Falcons reached the knock-out rounds in the USA in 1999, the team lost to hosts 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.
Meanwhile, Republic of Ireland forward Marrisa Sheve has said they would fight Nigeria in the final group game.
The debutant lost their first games to Australia and Canada, no matter the outcome of the game against Nigeria’s Super Falcons, the Irish can’t make it to the next round.
“You will never see us give up.
“I am so proud of this team for that reason. We will go into that next game in Brisbane and we will fight like hell.
“We will try to come back with a result for Ireland, the fans who came out here to watch us and to show just how good this team is.
“You saw it at times. We’re so close to being one of the best teams in the world, everyone can see that.
“With this being our first tournament, the fact we are so disappointed that we held Canada to a 2-1 and it could have been a very different result, I think you see that.
“We’ll be back but we definitely have a business to finish with Nigeria”, she told BBC.
