“We have to retain our Trophy” – Super Falcons’ Captain Onome Ebi

Tremendous Falcons’ captain, Onome Ebi has declared that the nine-time African champions are totally centered on the dual goals of profitable a ticket to the 2023 FIFA Ladies’s World Cup finals and retaining their Ladies Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco subsequent month.

Cup holders Nigeria and 11 different nations will contend for the coveted Ladies AFCON trophy within the North African kingdom between 2nd – twenty third July, and all 4 semi-finalists are assured berths within the 2023 FIFA Ladies’s World Cup – the largest ever within the historical past of the ladies’s sport that can be staged in Australia and New Zealand a yr on.

“We’re conscious of the extreme competitors that’s going to play on the market in Morocco. We’ve no illusions. Ladies’s soccer has continued to develop in a variety of different African nations, sooner than anybody can think about. So, there can be nothing like under-rating any crew. All of the groups can be upbeat about their probabilities and profitable tickets to the World Cup.

“On our half, as defending champions, we all know our strengths. We all know what we have now to deliver to the pitch to beat. The clever factor all the time is to take it one match at a time. We go up first in opposition to the Banyana, after which we have now to face the challenges of Botswana and Burundi. Then, the knock-out rounds. World Cup ticket is paramount, however we additionally need to retain our trophy.”

Nigeria have gained 9 of the 11 championships contested to this point, accomplished each different yr since 1998, apart from the 2020 version that was obliterated by the coronavirus pandemic.

Ebi, who has performed in 5 FIFA World Cup finals since the USA of America in 2003, was amongst 19 early arrivals because the coaching camp commenced in Abuja on Thursday.

The 19 early birds have now been joined by 4 others, and 4 extra are anticipated because the crew prepares to depart the nation subsequent weekend for Morocco.