Photo credit: NFF
Nigeria’s top women’s football stars are determined to give their all on Tuesday evening as they aim to overcome Ethiopia and advance to the next round of qualifiers for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament in France next year.
Coach Justine Madugu expressed his disappointment with the outcome of the first leg in East Africa and emphasized the team’s determination to bounce back at the MKO Abiola National Stadium on Tuesday.
“We were not satisfied with the result from the first game. While it’s unfortunate that we didn’t win the first leg, we acknowledge the challenges we faced during that match. We’ve worked hard to overcome those challenges, and the team is now fully committed to securing a spot at the Olympics next year.”
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who had a stellar performance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and has been a key player for Paris FC in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, is confident that the team will overcome the Ethiopian challenge and focus on earning an Olympic ticket in the upcoming qualification rounds.
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“Our initial plan was to secure a victory in the first leg in Addis Ababa, but we’ve learned from the draw and are eagerly anticipating the return match in Abuja, where we will go all out for a win.”
Team captain Rasheedat Ajibade expressed the team’s positive spirit and determination to secure a victory. She emphasized the need for a strong start and not underestimating the opponents.
“The atmosphere in the camp is fantastic, and we are fully committed to achieving victory. We won’t underestimate them, especially after the scare they gave us in the first leg. Our goal is to secure a convincing win and advance in the tournament.”
Newcomer Rinsola Babajide, who earned her first cap for Nigeria in Addis Ababa, acknowledged the team’s underperformance in the first game and the need to deliver a better performance at home.
“In the first game, we all aimed for more, and we know we should have won. However, the circumstances made it challenging. Now, with the home advantage and our supporters behind us, we’re determined to work harder than ever, score goals, and, most importantly, secure a victory on the day.”
Ethiopia’s senior women’s team has shown their strength by defeating Chad 10-0 on aggregate in the first round, making them a formidable opponent for the Super Falcons. They achieved a 6-0 victory in Addis Ababa and followed it up with a 4-0 win in N’Djamena a few days later.
The upcoming match at the MKO Abiola National Stadium is scheduled to kick off at 4 pm on Tuesday.”
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