Ebi: Falcons Highly Motivated To Beat Equitorial Guinea

Captain Onome Ebi has revealed that the Nigeria Football Federation has fully motivated the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, to go all the way and retain their Women Africa Cup of Nations trophy at the ongoing championship in Ghana.

“The NFF have done their part very well. The ball is now in our court to do our part and make Nigerians happy, by winning against Equatorial Guinea on Saturday and going ahead to win a ticket to the World Cup and also retain our African title.”

Speaking to thenff.com, Ebi said victory over Zambia on Wednesday only meant the team was gradually returning to great shape. “We are getting back to shape. In the first game against South Africa, it was not the Super Falcons that Africa knew that turned up. Defeat made us to talk hard to ourselves. I think we are getting back to the form known of Super Falcons, the champions. We are not there yet but we are still pushing ourselves to reach our normal level. I believe our third game will definitely be much better.”

Onome Ebi

The experienced defender said it had never crossed her mind that the Super Falcons would leave the tournament at the group stage. “I never thought about that. I don’t think that is possible because to me I see us in the semi finals already. I have strong faith in the team that we are going to beat Equitorial Guinea and then we will take the knockout stage one match at a time.

“Nigerians should keep praying for us. They should keep believing in the Super Falcons because we are here for the trophy and we are here to qualify for the World Cup. I believe that with hard work and with God on our side, we are going to achieve our twin objectives.”

Nigeria’s Super Falcons qualify for Women Africa Cup of Nations

Four goals by Desire Oparanozie and a brace by Asisat Oshoala enabled reigning champions Nigeria to spell GAMBIA in Lagos on Monday and qualify for the 11th Women Africa Cup of Nations on a 7-0 aggregate win.

Oparanozie started early, blasting past goalkeeper Aminata Gaye from the spot in the second minute after Francisca Ordega was upended in the box by Nenneh Jallow.

Former U17 team star Amarachi Okoronkwo, who scored the only goal of the first leg in Bakau on Wednesday with a long range strike, tried to recreate same on the half –hour, but her effort saw the ball kiss the upright and bounce to safety.

The visitors strung passes together brilliantly in the midfield but could not get past the experienced Nigerian rear wall of Faith Michael, Ngozi Ebere, Osinachi Ohale and Skipper Onome Ebi.

Typically, Ngozi Okobi dominated the midfield, orchestrating brilliantly and earning standing ovation on several occasions with her intelligent play and passes. Her clever knock –down in the box in the 45th minute freed Asisat Oshoala to score Nigeria’s second.

Oparanozie knocked in her second and Nigeria’s third in the 48th minute, and although Penda Bah, Adama Tamba, Isatou Jallow Mam Drammeh and substitute Clarra Gomez tried to fashion a different approach, the 2016 Women AFCON final goalscorer hit the fourth for the Falcons in the 62nd minute to take the winds off the Gambians’ sail.

Falcons celebrate Women AFCON qualification at the Agege Stadium on Monday.

Substitute Halimatu Ayinde failed to connect with the net gaping after a brilliant Ordega pull-out in the 72nd minute, but Oshoala quickly made amends for that and several other misses with a captivating solo run and strike two minutes later.

With six minutes left, Oparanozie rifled into the far corner after her initial effort was blocked, to make it 6-0.

The Falcons thus join Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Zambia, South Africa, Algeria and Cameroon (who qualified in previous days) at the finals slated for later this year.