“The spirit is back!” – World Cup record-holder backs Super Falcons against New Zealand in Turkey friendly

Nigeria’s veteran defender Onome Ebi has expressed her confidence in the Super Eagles ahead of her team’s friendly tie against World Cup co-hosts New Zealand, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Super Falcons have won their last two matches against Costa Rica and Haiti, and Ebi believes that her team can continue their winning streak.

In an interview with the NFF after the team’s last training session at the Emir Sports Complex on Sunday, Ebi said, “We have to maintain the form that we have attained over the past two matches. It is important for us to keep up the momentum, to keep winning and know that we can always overwhelm our opponents. The spirit is back, and we are determined to sustain it.”

Ebi holds the record as the first African footballer to play in five FIFA World Cup Tournaments, taking part in the 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019 editions.

The 39-year-old is aiming to make a record-extending sixth appearance at football’s top table for women when the Falcons take on co-hosts Australia, Canada, and the Republic of Ireland in Melbourne and Brisbane this summer.

She believes that Tuesday’s clash against New Zealand is an opportunity for the Falcons to prove that their recent wins were not flukes.

“We suffered a poor patch for some months, but we are happy to start winning again,” Ebi added. “The hard job is to sustain the winning streak and we’re ready to do that hard work.”

The Super Falcons will face New Zealand at the Mardan Sports Complex in Antalya on Tuesday, with kick-off at 4 pm Turkish time (2 pm Nigeria time).

Goals by Esther Okoronkwo and Asisat Oshoala powered the former African champions past Haiti in their last game, securing their second consecutive win on the road.

Tuesday’s game against six-time continental champions New Zealand is Nigeria’s first-ever international engagement with the Football Ferns.