By Daily Sports Nigeria on July 2, 2022

Ahead of this year’s Women’s Cup of Nations in Morocco, Ifeomu Onumonu says the Super Falcons is still the team to beat in Africa as they prepare to land a record-extending 10th continental title.

The Falcons will commence the defence of their title on Monday, July 4th, against Banyana Banyana of South Africa in Group C. They will also face Botswana and Burundi.

Aside Randy Waldrum’s team, the likes of South Africa and Cameroon have been tipped to challenge the African champions for this year’s tournament.

But Onumonu remains convinced that despite recent struggles, the record champions remain the best team in Africa.

“[We] lost it a few years ago, but the goal this year is we’re not allowing that to happen again. Especially with the quality of this team,” she told ESPN.

“It’s not a lie, I think that there is no African team that is better than Nigeria at this moment.

“So, I just can’t wait to start the competition and bring it home.”

Despite having just five caps to her name, Onumonu has found the back of the net three times.

Two of those came during a hard-fought qualifying game against Cote d’Ivoire, which propelled the Nigerians to Morocco.

The other came in a friendly against Canada where the Falcons were forced to a 2-2 draw by the Olympic champions.

Going into her first senior tournament at age 28, Onumonu admits that being a rookie in international play, even though she represented the USA at under 23 level and has played in the NWSL for years, will take some figuring out.

“I think the most difficult part for me is sort of being new… but not new. Like, in the US I’m a veteran player, but with the Nigerian national team, I’m a new player. So it’s sort of trying to like find out where I fit in.

“I’m 28 years old so I’m very comfortable with who I am in a sense, but then getting put in the position of being a rookie again, trying to figure it out, trying to integrate and not allowing myself to be uncomfortable.

“I understand that I am new to the situation and so I am the one who’s going to have to change to some degree and not ask other players to change to suit me and being okay with that.

“So I think for me, that was sort of the hardest part to wrap my head around because, again, I’m a veteran rookie, in some sense which is very difficult to balance.”

Source Complete Sports Nigeria

Posted July 2, 2022

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