Portrait

CAN 2022 women: Onome Ebi, Nigerian taulière

Nigerian Onome Ebi during the Women's CAN 2022.

© RFI/David Kalfa

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

2 mins

Onome Ebi is the captain of the Nigerian women's football team during the African Cup of Nations in Morocco (CAN 2022).

At 39, the defender is about to play her seventh CAN final phase, she who made her debut for the Super Falcons with the 2003 World Cup.

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From our special correspondent in Rabat,

When Onome Ebi looks at you, it is six participations in the Women's African Cup of Nations and especially five in the World Cup (record for an African) who are looking at you.

The 39-year-old defender, who played in her first World Cup in 2003, is an icon on the continent.

In Morocco, the one who has been African champion four times (2010, 2014, 2016, 2018) is seeking a fifth crown.

And she approaches this CAN 2022 with intact motivation.

“ 

I am always ready to fight

, she slips soberly, like her tackles.

In the national team, if you are not prepared enough, you will not be in the group.

And then, being experienced and the oldest, I have to motivate my teammates.

As an element of experience, we must push the girls to give the best of themselves.

All this experience will be valuable for the selection

 .

Witness to the evolution of women's football in Africa

With the Super Falcons, Onome Ebi has experienced a bit of everything.

But the one who played in the championships of Sweden, Turkey, Belarus and China, never tires of observing the evolution of African women's football.

“ 

The level is rising from year to year

, judges the now ex-resident of FC Minsk.

For example, we cannot even compare the 2018 edition to this one.

This year, everything is impressive 

”.

After having known the African Cups with eight teams, the interested party will therefore discover the final phases of CAN with twelve countries.

Will she also taste the first Women's World Cup at 32?

She hopes to be in Australia and New Zealand in 2023 (if the Nigerians qualify for this World Cup).

“ 

We can win the World Cup 

,” she assured last April, between two friendlies against Canada.

This is at least one accomplishment that Onome Ebi has not yet experienced...

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