Nigeria’s female national team, Super Falcons’ captain, Rasheedat Ajibade has declared that the zeal of each player in the squad at the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco is not just to win the trophy but also set standards for young players to follow.
Sports247 reports that ‘The Lady With Blue Hair’ admitted that winning the title at WAFCON 2024 would boost their careers and place them in a special part of Nigeria’s history, but she stressed that the most important thing for them is motivating young talents to aspire for success as well.
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Ajibade, who recently left Atletico Femenino of Spain in search of fresh excitement elsewhere, confessed ahead of Tuesday’s semi-final clash with South Africa that they are under pressure, but affirmed their determination to overcome all odds.
She said further, “To be honest, there’s a lot happening behind the scenes, but we do not allow that to stop us. This is what we love to do.
“This is our job, and we are not doing it just for ourselves. We are doing it also for that young girl who aspires to become a professional footballer someday.”
Ajibade acknowledged that the task of carrying a country’s burden is not easy; hence her charge to all Nigerians to play their part towards ensuring that the Falcons clinch a historic 10th African title for the nation.
The product of FC Robo Queens of Lagos philosophised, “We know that this is a responsibility that appears to be bigger than us. So, we have to share this responsibility with honour.
“That’s why we keep giving our best to respect this privilege and honour of wearing the badge of Nigeria.”
The Falcons’ captain concluded with a hint at the kind of mentality each of the players will take into Tuesday’s game at Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, which she noted will require total concentration from them.
“We have to keep our focus, keep the energy high, and keep giving our best every minute. It’s not easy to play without conceding a goal from the start of the competition.
“We started very slowly, but we keep growing as the tournament progresses. We want to continue this way and keep making history for ourselves.
“We also want to set high standards for those coming behind us,” reiterated the fair-skinned Ajibade, who was voted player of the match in the victory over Zambia.
