FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: Falcons’ captain Ebi says team positive ahead of Irish clash

History -making captain Onome Ebi says the Super Falcons are gingered and in a super positive mood ahead of Monday evening’s Group B cracker against Republic
of Ireland at Brisbane’s Lang Park.

The 40 – year old became the one of the oldest women to have featured at the FIFA Women’s World Cup when she was introduced into the game against co-hosts
Australia at the same venue on Thursday.

She’s also one of the few women, and the only one from the African continent, to have played in six finals, alongside Brazil’s Marta and Canada’s Christine Sinclair.

‘We are very positive and looking forward to the match. The mood in camp is great and everyone is in high spirits. The win against Australia has given us the
belief and the confidence to face any team. We will play for a win.

‘We want Nigerians all over the world to continue to support us and believe in the team. That alone gives us great motivation. We have won one match and
drawn one. We want to set the record of not losing any match in the group phase and topping our group.’

In 2019, when they reached the Round of 16, the nine-time African champions lost 0-3 to Norway and 0-1 to hosts France, on either side of a 2-0 defeat of South Korea, with Asisat Oshoala scoring after an own goal by the Koreans.

‘We know we still have a job to do; we are not deterred. We simply go in there and play for a win,’ Ebi added.