Nigeria’s midfield dynamo Jennifer Echegini says she is “able to make historical past” as she gears up for her first-ever look on the Girls’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), decided to assist the Tremendous Falcons reclaim their continental crown, Soccernet.ng experiences.
Echegini, 24, is heading to Morocco on the again of a superb season with Paris Saint-Germain.
The previous Juventus midfielder believes this yr’s event, which kicks off on July 5 in Rabat, is about greater than soccer — it’s about pleasure, stress, and preserving Nigeria’s legacy.
The Netherlands-born star, who has already featured on the 2023 FIFA Girls’s World Cup and certified for the 2024 Olympics, is bracing for the electrical environment and emotional weight of continental competitors.
“It’s very particular,” Echegini instructed CAFOnline.
“I’ve been in main worldwide competitions, however I haven’t performed in an WAFCON but. This shall be my first time, and I’m very excited. I watched the final version two years in the past and already thought: “At some point, it’ll be my flip.” Now that second is right here.
“It’s a special environment, a special power. Representing my nation on the African continent is a large honor. The Girls’s AFCON is about historical past, tradition, emotion. I can’t wait to reside it from the within.”
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Echegini sends WAFCON warning as Nigeria eye record-extending tenth title
The Tremendous Falcons are nine-time champions of Africa however haven’t lifted the trophy since 2018.
With South Africa breaking Nigeria’s dominance in 2023, the stress is again on for the reigning queens of African soccer to show their mettle.
“We reside with it,” Echegini stated.
“The stress has all the time been there. Once you put on the Nigerian jersey, you realize the expectations are sky-high. However that’s factor, actually. It’s these requirements that form who we’re.
“Nigeria has gained this competitors a number of instances. As the brand new technology, it’s our obligation to hold on that custom. So sure, there’s stress. However everybody—the followers, the employees, us—desires the identical factor: victory.”
Echegini heads into the event in scintillating kind.
In 20 appearances for PSG throughout all competitions this season, she scored seven objectives and supplied 4 assists, serving to her aspect end second behind Lyon within the French Division 1 Féminine. She additionally featured twice within the UEFA Girls’s Champions League.
With 11 caps and two objectives for Nigeria, her function throughout the nationwide crew continues to develop. She is broadly thought to be one of the crucial thrilling abilities in African soccer.
Nigeria’s Tremendous Falcons have been drawn in Group B, alongside Tunisia, Botswana, and Algeria. The previous champions will open their WAFCON marketing campaign in opposition to Tunisia, hoping to take a vital step towards a historic tenth title.
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns right into a ball of ardour when writing about Nigerian soccer and its abilities, whether or not rising stars or established legends, domestically and overseas.
From the deepest corners of the Center East, to the inexperienced fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the wealthy soils of Africa, Imhons is greater than glad, often with a glass of a tasty drink close by, to seize the essence of the sport, by connecting the dots between tradition, id, and soccer.