The captain of the senior national women’s football team, Onome Ebi, said the Super Falcons will aim for a semi‑finals spot at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the ninth FIFA Women’s World Cup finals will be held in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20. Speaking with NAN after the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy tour in Abuja on Sunday, Ebi said the team’s goal is to improve on their previous performance. “We are going there to give our best and our target is to at least reach the last four, having made it to the round of 16 in our last outing in France in 2019. However, there are no guarantees; we are just going there to play our game. We are working towards it and have been playing several high‑profile friendly games,” she explained.
Ebi acknowledged that recent results have not met Nigerians’ expectations, but she believes the losses will help the team improve as they address their mistakes ahead of the World Cup. “The World Cup finals is the big target and that’s what we are working for,” she said.
Regarding grassroots development of women’s football in the country, Ebi emphasized the need for serious attention to secondary‑school football and for better coordination of academies. “It is pertinent that we decentralise the culture of having the base and pinnacle of football only when players reach the national teams. We must begin to look for those players who are in our schools and are young. We must expand the scope of participation to young girls,” she stated.
The Falcons captain also advised the national under‑17 team, the Flamingos, not to relent in their pursuit of greatness. Listening to the young girls share their stories reminded her of her own challenges with family, school, and football. “These are obstacles they must face and conquer if they hope to fulfill their dreams. They must believe in themselves, fight, and push through this difficult early stage in their career,” Ebi said.
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