Gift Monday on cloud nine after making Women’s World Cup debut for Nigeria

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria’s senior women’s national team forward, Gift Monday is elated to have played her first match at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brisbane.

The UDG Tenerife star marked her debut when she was introduced by coach Randy Waldrum in the second half of the Super Falcons’ 0-0 draw with the Republic of Ireland on Monday.

She played her part in the second half as the nine-time African champions made it to the knockout stage of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and reflected on her side’s progression to the second round.

“This feeling is pure, I am so excited,” Monday exclusively told NigeriaFootball after her exciting debut.

“My target coming into the game in the second half was to come to prove myself to the world since it was my first.

“The message from the coach was ‘go and compliment your teammates’ effort.”

Nigeria reached the Round of 16 for the second time on the bounce and third  after achieving the same feat in 2019.

The former FC Robo Queens player opened up on the motivation behind the team’s success despite off-the-field incidents leading to the tournament

“We the players are the motivations, that’s what I can say,” she continued.

“I will keep doing my best to make my family proud and country proud.”

Randy Waldrum’s side will be facing European champions, England in the Round of 16 after their second-place finish in Group B with five points [a win and three draws] behind co-host, Australia.

England finished top of Group D with a perfect record of three wins out of three games but will seek to avoid three consecutive defeat against the nine-time African champions on Monday.

“Nothing is impossible, so I hope and pray we get to the finals,” she added.

“I think at this stage we’re prepared to face any team and that’s why we’re in this stage, we just need to improve in what we’ve been doing.”