Desire Oparanozie, before her departure with the Super Falcons to France, spoken about her ambition to see the Nigerian team lift the FIFA Women’s World Cup during her reign as captain, Completesports.com reports.
The Super Falcons are in Group A alongside hosts France, in the 2019 showpiece that got underway over the weekend. South Korea and Norway who handed Nigeria her worst defeat (8-0) on June 6, 1995, in Tingvallen, Sweden are also in the group.
Norway edged the Super Falcons 3-0 in their opening Group A match of France 2019 on Saturday.
Falcons have made six appearances in the global women’s showpiece previously; played 19 matches, won three, drew two and lost 14.
Oparanozie, 25, who plies her trade with French top side, En Avant Guingamp, told Completesports.com during the media presentation of her charity project, Desire Oparanozie Foundatio, before she departed to France, that she would want to be remembered as first Super Falcons captain to deliver the FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy to Nigeria.
“I’m not to looking for personal glory. I’m more focused on team glory and what the team can achieve together,” Oparanozie said.
“If I want personal glory, I could have been into tennis or athletics.
“But my greatest dream right now is to become the first Super Falcons captain to deliver the FIFA Women’s World Cup to the Nigerian nation.”
She believes that Falcons are capable of navigating through their tough group, drawing confidence from the team’s good preparation, quality players and technically sound coach in Thomas Dennerby.
“Truth is, over the years, we never had good preparation going into the World Cup. But this year, things changed.
“We’ve never had it so good in terms of preparation. Yes, there could still be a couple of things that could be done better but they (NFF) have done well in preparing us going into this tournament.
“And of course, to whom much is given, they say, much is expected. I know Nigerians are hopeful, they look up to us, many believe we’ve dominated Africa for so long and as such it is time for us to make a statement on the world stage.
“Looking at the team now, we have quality, we have one of the best coaches in the world when it comes to women football. We have everything it takes to conquer. And with a combination of our quality, preparation and sound coach, it is high time we got past the previous record we had in the World Cup”.
Oparanozie speaks further about her new role as Super Falcons captain.
“Honestly, being called up to captain the Super Falcons comes with a whole lot of indescribable feeling,” the former Bayelsa Queens and Delta QueCup
forward added.
“I wasn’t expecting it, to tell you the truth. But then, I feel I was honoured with a responsibility to lead the team. I’m just overwhelmed.”
Oparanozie will lead out Super Falcons against Korea Republic on Wednesday in their second Group A match of the ongoing France 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup at the Stade des Alpes Gronoble. Kickoff is 2pm Nigerian time.
Nigeria are currently third in the group without any point (-3 goal difference), behind leaders France (3 points +4 goals) and second-placed Norway (3 points ±3goals. Korea Republic are bottom of the group without any point too (-4 goal difference)
9 Comments
Don’t worry, it will come true. In your PES20
when u had zero short on target against Norway ,like somebody said, maybe it could be in PES2
Exactly. Ordega fed you very well, but you had nothing to show for it. Nan PES you go take win the cup. Mtcheeew.
I wonder who do us this utopian sickness ooo. We win by imagination. Nan these religious deceptions we have at every corner of the land. Instead of people working hard, they rely on prayer opium. Nan only us sabi God? Who do us this mumu and self deception oooooo???????
It’s not over yet. Game still dey. But the time has come now, not for talking or dreaming, but for action. The big hurdle of course, will be the French.
You still de dream in the afternoon? Yiu no de see the hand writing for wall? Ah! Nawa for you ooo
The coach and his players are at it again, talking tough ahead of their next encounter.
I re-watched the game against Norway with less emotions but still, I struggled to see any positives.
– sloppy defending.
– inability to create clear cut goal scoring opportunities.
– midfield lacking in creativity.
– reduced mobility and fluidity.
– attack lacking in bite.
– under-utilisation of their physicality.
Now, can Dennerby turn things around.
According to Daily Post, veteran defender Onome Ebi was quoted after the Norway drubbing as saying: “We’re going to go back and look at our mistakes and maybe work on them.
The second game will be better than the first.
We’ve learned so much from this first game and we’ll come back. We have to win the second game (against Korea Republic), and we’ll do all we can to win,” she assured.
Her coach Dennerby, on the same note, said:” A game can change in the last minute. So, we will work very hard for it and I can promise that we’ll never give up.”
Unfortunately, neither of them is saying anything new.
They needed a draw from the match against Norway to enhance their chances of progress.
Now they work a very tight rope.
“Looking at the team now, we have quality, we have one of the best coaches in the world when it comes to women football.
We have everything it takes to conquer.
And with a combination of our quality, preparation and sound coach, it is high time we got past the previous record we had in the World Cup”: Desire Oparanozie (according to the article above).
In the match against Norway the other day, neither Oparanozie nor her teammates exhibited any of the quality she alluded to.
Her coaches, according to her, are some of the best on the planet. The coaches did not cover their credentials with glory the other day.
Yes, it is time they surpasses previous world cup record; that is true. But with the way they started and the style they played, that ambition now appears remote.
But, but in football, it is not over until its over.
Quoting Dennerby, he said: “When it comes to sports, never ever give up. We have to fight for 180 minutes more, plus added time”.
Let’s hope the defeat against Norway serves as a wake up call for the coaches and players to start exhibiting the ” class and qualities ” that Oparanozie was happy to flaunt in the article above.
How beautiful is France ? Guys forget them , they ‘ve got nothing to show