Super Falcons star, Ifeoma Onumonu, has highlighted the urgent need for better support and resources for the nation’s players following their heart-wrenching exit from the Women’s World Cup, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Super Falcons of Nigeria had their dreams dashed in a penalty shootout against England in the tournament’s last 16.
Despite Nigeria’s commendable efforts and dominant spells during the match, they ultimately fell short in the penalty shootout, losing 4-2 after a goalless 120 minutes.
Speaking about the experience, Onumonu drew attention to the stark disparities between the support systems of different teams.
“In Nigeria, we don’t have access to much. Our training fields aren’t great. Where we sleep isn’t great. Sometimes we share beds,” she said.
Onumonu, who plays her club football for Gotham FC in the US, emphasized that much work must be done to enhance the players’ environment for optimal performance.
“There’s a lot that needs to be done. Hopefully, more people start to talk about it. Coming here, it’s hard to adjust. We do what we can because we love playing for our country, but hopefully, they make it easier for us to do our best,” she asserted.
The Nigerian national team’s preparation for the World Cup was plagued by both internal and external difficulties, including player disagreements and problems with the Nigeria Football Federation. Coach Randy Waldrum also expressed worry about unpaid wages and a lack of funding.
Many other African teams agree with Onumonu’s appeal for better conditions since she emphasized the need to level the playing field and create an atmosphere that is favourable to development.
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