Nigeria is looking to maintain their unblemished qualification record at the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica this year after appearances in all previous nine editions.
With the African qualifying series in the final round to produce two representatives, the Falconets are harbouring ambitions of extending their perfect qualification feat with their sights on overcoming Senegal.
To achieve this dream, Blessing Demehin who remains a key figure in Christopher Danjuma’s side, reveals her side is bracing up to the challenge against their West African counterparts.
“I feel great and amazed because it takes only a great team to get to this final stage of the qualifier. So it has not been easy, but with God on our side, things work well for us,” Demehin told CAFOnline.com.
“It takes only a better team to get to the final stage of the qualifiers, but we won’t look down on the Senegalese team, but we work with our formation that has always helped.
“The match is very important, this match will determine one of the countries that will be representing the African zone. To us, it is a final match and we are playing to win and to win well.”
Demehin ensured Nigeria kept a series of clean sheets as they remain the only side yet to concede a goal, after scoring 18 goals in five matches, including a 3-0 home win over Cameroon.
Despite their triumph over the Lionesses, the defender admits elimination scare against the Central Africans while drawing lessons from their eventual hard-fought progression.
This is my first time being a captain, I believe it is a great task and requires me to be an example on and off the pitch. I need to motivate the team for the task ahead and I am sure we are ready. Blessing Demehin
“Our toughest match so far was against Cameroon, because they gave us a tough time. We got a goalless draw in their home and our home, we won by three-nil,” she reflects.
“It was only Cameroon that could’ve stopped us, but fortunately, we scale through. To beat them, we increased our training and worked on our tactics and finishing. We learnt to keep working hard as nothing is impossible and that has helped especially against Cameroon.”
The 19-year-old is increasingly gaining valuable experience since her senior debut for Nigeria against Jamaica at the US Summer Series last June before featuring at the CAF Women’s Champions League with Rivers Angels five months later.
Her impressive form saw her recalled to the Super Falcons, although she didn’t feature in a 3-0 aggregate win over Cote d’Ivoire in qualification for TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, she is excited with her learning curve.
“The experience [with Super Falcons has helped in some areas of my game, I was on the bench while playing against the Ivorians,” she recounts.
“I learnt a lot from the opponents and also from the senior players, which I have imbibed and hope to add to my playing. This will help me individually and also as a team.
“This is my first time being a captain, I believe it is a great task and requires me to be an example on and off the pitch. I need to motivate the team for the task ahead and I am sure we are ready for the task ahead.”
For girls who love football in Africa, the struggle for support is real and troubling but fortunately, the centre back often looks to her father for motivation in her dreams for a big break.
“My career has been of great concern to me since it is not so easy for a girl child to play football,” the defender said.
“Most parents hearing what footballers pass through may discourage their wards from participating in the sport, but I will want them to support such ward and keep encouraging them.
“My motivation has been my Dad, who has been giving me the maximum support from the onset, he never doubted me, this has been helping me. My dream is to play for a European team.
“He has supported me from my Junior Secondary School days and calls every day and encourages me to push forward and not forget where I came from.”
Source: CAF
Frederick Marfo is a sportswriter and social worker well known for his advocacy for equal chances and rights for all athletes, especially those with disabilities.
Discussion about this post