women-from-nigeria

"I will tell them to never stop believing in their dreams. Keep working hard and keep praying, because you never know when your breakthrough will come."

"Winning the WAFCON is definitely the biggest moment of my career so far. In the final against Morocco, we came from behind to win 3-2. I cried after the match because I never thought I would reach that stage. That was the happiest moment of my career."

"Sometimes I would sneak out to play with boys and they would beat me when I returned. Eventually, they gave up and started supporting me."

"But I kept working hard and praying, and by God’s grace, my dream came true."

"I try to promote grassroots football in the North. I’m getting support from the state government, and it’s helping young girls who want to play professionally and pursue their dreams."

"I want to do this by working hard and staying focused. I believe everything happens in its time and season, and I know my time will come."

"Every coach has their style."

"Growing up in northern Nigeria is not that easy because they don’t believe that a girl child should play football. From my family, my parents were supportive, but my brothers didn’t want me to play. I was stubborn and didn’t listen."

"It’s a gradual process, but women’s football in Nigeria is growing very fast. With time, we won’t just dominate Africa but will compete with the best teams in the world. Many players abroad came through the Nigerian league, and that shows how strong our foundation is."

"I always try to mentor young players with the little knowledge I have. I talk to them during training and matches. I think they appreciate it—it’s up to them to use what I tell them."

"I always try to give my best and adapt to whatever pattern the coaches bring. With the experience I have, I try to help the younger players settle and excel."

"We are back as the giant of Africa."

"I was very happy. For me, it was progress and a big milestone. Seeing myself in the national team was a dream come true. I think that’s every athlete’s dream — to represent their country. Although I was on the bench, I was very happy to be a part of the squad."

"I grew up in the midst of men six boys and two girls, and all my play mates were boys, everything about my growing was with boys, always playing street football with them."

"Believe in yourself, no matter where you come from. In Paris, only discipline and passion matter."

"It sends a strong message to young girls across the continent: if we made it, they can too. They shouldn't limit themselves to stereotypical traits."

"We’re often reduced to speed or power, but African women’s football is so much more than that."

"No team should be taken lightly."

"This tournament brings a different intensity, a unique emotion. It’s our legacy."

"They need to invest more in women's football in Nigeria. The welfare of players is very important. Teams should start taking responsibility for their players, especially when they are injured. They need to do more. Player welfare is very important in women's football."

"We need all the supports we can get. Women’s football is growing larger. The more people watch it, the more it keeps growing for sure, for women’s sports."

"I want to give credit to Nigeria in this aspect: our women's league is good and strong. We just need people to come and invest."

"Being able to inspire the younger generations means a lot to me."

"The spirit in the camp is high. We are good to go. I know we are here to compete. Going to the Olympics is so special to me. I will always cherish this moment because so many people dreamt of playing at the Olympics and it never came to pass."

"I always keep pushing myself and staying focused on everything I do."

"Thank you for the support. Without them, we wouldn't have been able to make it. We hope they keep supporting us."

"We need as much fans as we can get and we need support, so keep supporting, and we’re gonna get the trophy."

"Awards don’t always reflect reality, but the pitch never lies."

"If you tell yourself you won’t make it, then you won’t. Don’t let anyone convince you that you can’t. Work hard, believe in yourself, and go for it."

"Back then, women's football wasn't seen the way it is today. But I knew I was good."

"We live with it. The pressure has always been there. When you wear the Nigerian jersey, you know the expectations are sky-high."

"Today, things are changing—and that’s excellent. The more people understand the importance of this competition, the more African women’s football will grow."

"But that’s the point: no matter where you come from, the path may be different, but the destination can be the same. We can all reach the top level, each in our own way."

"I told them to believe in themselves. It doesn’t matter where you come from—your background should never limit you. Being from a particular country or region doesn’t define your value. What matters is what you show on the field."

"There are so many things I love here. What stands out the most is being able to train every day alongside exceptional players. Every session is a learning moment. Some of them I used to admire on TV when I was younger, so now sharing the field with them and learning from them is such a rich experience."

"You have to believe in yourself and never doubt. You set your own ceiling."

"After every tough game, you just have to get over it. There are things you can’t control, and I try to focus on the ones I can. It’s okay to reflect and work on your performance, but the key is to move ahead."

"Be yourself, do your thing, and be confident in yourself. But most importantly, know God first, because God is great."

"We motivated one another. We believed we could do it. We believed in what we are capable of."

"I am going to say it is tough. It's a mental thing. It is just about getting your mind focused and ready for anything that comes because I know what I am putting myself through."

"It’s a competition, and everyone is going there to fight for the trophy."

"This is a step toward achieving our aim in this competition. We want to keep winning until we reach our goal."

"I feel like the moment I stop playing and growing, so many people coming after me are going to suffer."

"In Nigeria, I think investors focus more on the men than the women."

"Well, it was tough but here am today, so the past is over and I am in the future."

"It has been tough playing where it is taboo for female footballers to play in Kano city. People feel like females don’t have anything to do with playing football and there’s no female team in Kano. Anytime they try to bring up the female team, it does not go anywhere. I feel it is because of the culture and how they see things differently."

"Self-belief is the key."

"We are strong. We never say never. We are the Super Falcons of Nigeria. That was our mentality."

"The world is changing. Football is changing. People are growing. We still need to do more back home. The facilities need improvement. For me, I think we need to get the grassroots teams back"

"We're teaching the younger generation not to give up and to have a fighting spirit. Whatever you want, you gotta work hard for."