Super Falcons skipper, Rasheedat Ajibade, has expressed confidence and positivity in the camp ahead of their much-anticipated WAFCON 2024 final clash with hosts Morocco.
Nigeria, boasting a rich legacy with nine titles under their belt, step into the final showdown against the Atlas Lionesses as the more experienced side.
But despite the expectations, Ajibade insists the players are handling the occasion with composure and mental strength.
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“We’re preparing and we’re doing all we can to make use of the time that we have and the team spirit is high. We’re focused, we’re determined, and we know what’s at stake. So, we’re ready,” she told a press conference.
“For me, there’s no pressure at all, to be honest. Even if there is, I always take it positively because it’s okay for you to feel pressured, but how I interpret it is what matters a lot. It’s a positive one and we are prepared mentally for whatever might happen.”
The final carries added significance for the Nigerian team, not just because it’s a title decider, but due to the bitter memories of their last meeting with Morocco.
In the 2022 semi-final, Nigeria bowed out on penalties after a 1-1 draw, a match marred by controversial decisions and two red cards—Ajibade and Halimat Ayinde were both sent off.
This time, the forward is hopeful that things will unfold differently—and fairly.
“Last tournament might have happened the way it happened, but this time around it’s going to be a different one and it’s going to be a good one,” she said.
“We still urge and plead that everything should be done fairly. We want a beautiful football. We don’t want something that will not beautify African football at all. We want a fair game in the officiating and everything.”
Nigeria’s path to the final has been anything but easy. The Super Falcons eliminated formidable opponents, including Zambia’s Copper Queens and the reigning champions, Banyana Banyana of South Africa, to earn their spot in the final.
Ajibade believes the team’s determination and sacrifices make this final a mission they cannot afford to fall short on.
“We have worked so hard to get to this point. We have gone through a lot. We have sacrificed so much to get to this point and we know what it means for us as players. We know what it means for us as a team. We know the situation we are in our nation right now,” she stated.
“We know what football does for us. This is everything for us and for those young girls who have a dream out there, who want to someday play on this stage. We know this is a huge responsibility that is bigger than us. We are willing to do everything we can to keep up and eventually win the trophy.”
With confidence, unity, and a sense of national pride, the Super Falcons head into the final ready to write another golden chapter in African women’s football.
