My younger sister, my sport daughter – Onome Ebi describes relationship with Oshoala

There’d been some heavy air around the Super Falcons over the team’s captaincy

Super Falcons veteran defender, Onome Ebi described her relationship with Asisat Oshoala in the FIFA ‘Icons’ documentary as cordial.

Ebi said a young Oshoala had come to meet her to be under her wings when she joined the Super Falcons.

“She came to me and wanted to be close to me because she liked the way I play. I motivate her. I see her as my younger sister, my sport daughter,” Ebi said.

Oshoala has since become a mainstay of the team herself and its most prized asset.

Describing how the Barcelona Femeni attacker stepped up her responsibility in the team, Ebi said; “She matured in the game. She became a fighter. She started in Liverpool, and things weren’t smooth. Then she changed to Arsenal, and things weren’t still smooth for her the way she wanted.

”When she moved to China, people said Asisat football will go down. ‘Why did she move to China?’ and other negative things all over, but she never listened. Before you know, Asisat from China to Barcelona. One of the biggest in the world.”

Ebi spoke glowingly about the attacker and said she’s an angel in Lagos, a cultural icon.

Oshoala was captain of the team for nearly three years until a reported change in the team’s captaincy saw 38-year old Ebi take up the band.

The development led to furious tirades from Oshoala as she rained slurs on the veteran defender.

The suspected breakdown in their relationship has left many wondering what went wrong considering how close they’ve always been.

Super Falcons coach, Randy Waldrum and the NFF officials are expected to help both players settle their differences and maintain their harmony as teammates.

When asked about the issue, Waldrum said he won’t like to weigh in on it and said there are lots of misconceptions in the Nigerian media.