Forward Ifeoma Onumonu expressed sober optimism ahead of the quarter-final showdown with Zambia, believing that lessons from past failures have transformed this iteration of the Falcons.
“We accept Zambia will be a difficult test,” she began, but then added a note of conviction:
“The winner of this tie will go on to win the tournament.” Onumonu acknowledged the quality of the opponents, but noted, “We have improved and learnt from our last defeat to the same opponent at the last WAFCON”—a reference to the 2022 loss in the bronze-medal match .
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The NFF-funded quarter-final berth, which came with a N300 million bonus, has injected fresh motivation into the squad, and Onumonu said the money will not sway their focus .
Practically, the team drills and strategies are sharpened; Onumonu underlined the collective growth, especially in transition and closing phases, areas that previously exposed the team.
Her message was clear: past is prologue, but not destiny. This Super Falcons are different—battle-hardened, resolute, and determined to correct past mistakes. If they succeed, Onumonu insisted, the building momentum could carry them all the way to the final.
