President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, on Sunday in Abuja assured that nine-time African champions Nigeria would be ready for the 9th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals.
Gusau, while speaking during the Nigeria leg of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Trophy Tour, said the Falcons would put up an excellent show during the competition.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2023 FIFA Women’s Workd Cup will hold in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to Aug. 20.
“Nigeria is very excited to be amongst the 32 finalist countries for the Women’s World Cup, the first to be co-hosted and the first ever for 32 teams.
“It is indeed a historic moment for us at the NFF and the Super Falcons and indeed for all the other teams that qualified,” Gusau said.
He added that the Government and people of Nigeria have high expectations for this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup competition.
“Our Super Falcons have been preparing hard and still preparing to make an excellent run in Australia and New Zealand.
”We want to assure you that our Super Falcons will not be going to Australia and New Zealand just to make up the number,” the NFF President said.
NAN reports that the Nigeria leg of the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy tour had began at the Anglican Girls Secondary School in Apo.
There, the school’s fascinated 115 students took turns to take photographs with the original trophy, alongside the five-member FIFA team and a number of NFF management officials.
The main event at the Transcorp Hilton also had the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Leann Johnston, as well as Super Falcons captain Onome Ebi.
The five-member FIFA team had Giulia Türkyilmaz, Alexa Sunderland, Felipe Chevita, Jot Jakher and Aurelien Fougere.
In her comments at the event, Johnston said: “We are excited to welcome Nigeria to Australia for the tournament and we’re looking forward to the group match between them on July in Brisbane.
“Australia is rightly proud of the achievements of our women’s national team, the Matildas, who are currently ranked 12th in the world.
“Australians know that the Super Falcons have a long reputation and are not to be taken lightly.
“The Super Falcons have played in every FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament and are by far Africa’s most successful women’s football team.”
NAN reports that Nigeria is one of only seven countries to have featured in every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the competition was launched in 1991.
The others are the USA, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Norway and Sweden.
This year’s finals will be the first finals to be held in the Southern Hemisphere.
It is also the first to welcome 32 teams and the first to be played across two countries in two different confederations.(NAN)
