Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Australia and the Pacific Region, Amb. Anderson Madubike, has urged the Super Falcons to make Africa proud at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The tournament, which is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, is to be held from July 20 to August 20.
In a reception for the Nigerian team in Brisbane, Madubike tasked the players on the need to take Nigeria to greater glory on the global stage.
He called on the players to display the skills and sporting grace for which Nigeria was renowned.
He commended the team for their previous accomplishments and successes across Africa and the world in past competitions, and for qualifying for the tournament.
Madubike said that the players should realise that each of them is an Ambassador of Nigeria at the tournament.
“With the caliber of players and technical experts, the team has the capacity to go beyond the quarter-final best record of the West African sub-region in the tournament.”
He challenged them to make history for the nation and for themselves, adding that it was a thing of honor and responsibility for them.
“You must bear in mind that whatever success you achieve will enhance your individual careers going forward.
“You have great players and a good technical team; all that remains is for you to be focused and not allow any form of distraction at this stage.
“Just work as a team and as professionals in your games; you must also bear in mind that the government and people of Nigeria are looking up to you for a very successful competition.
“The High Commission in Australia, Nigerians in the diaspora and, indeed, all Africans here, are behind you.
“You know they trust us when it comes to global competitions like this. We are all with you all the way,” he said.
The Nigerian envoy said that the mission would celebrate with the team in a bigger way after the tournament.
He said the Mission had earlier visited and inspected their accommodation arrangement in both Melbourne and Brisbane where the team would be campaigning for the tournament.
Madubike assured them that everything had been put in place to make the tournament a memorable one.
Team Captain Onome Ebi, in her remarks, promised that the team would do its best to surpass previous records at the tournament.
She thanked the Mission for the honor, saying that the team was physically and psychologically ready for the mundial.
The players are expected to undertake a 15-day training ahead of the commencement of the tournament.
The team went through their first training session on Thursday at the Gold Coast Sports Centre, Brisbane, Australia.
The Super Falcons are in Group B alongside joint hosts Australia, Republic of Ireland and Canada, with their opening match against Canada is slated for July 21 at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
The Nigerian team is the only African side to take part in all FIFA Women’s World Cup since it debuted in China 1991.
