Ebere Orji, who has been among Nigeria’s goalscorers has no other dream than to send the USA team back to New York.She told africansportsdigest.com in a chat that it is her only wish: n “We’re are looking for the Semi-finals ticket and would not want any team to stop us. We respect the American because of their pedigree, but the fight must go on until we secured the ticket. As you might have known, we’ve never crossed this level in the past, so we want to make history.
He colleague Amarachi okoronkwo spoke in the same optimistic manner stressing that they are focus and want to go all out and win the game.
“We’ll win against the USA,” said a confident Amarachi Okoronkwo in an exclusive interview with FIFA.com. The 17-year-old provided the link between midfield and attack in each of Nigeria’s three group matches, and even managed to get on the scoresheet in the 2-1 victory over Japan. Alongside star player Ebere Orji and chief goal-getter Desire Oparanozie, the energetic No16 is the driving force of the West Africans’ attack.
After registering one win and two draws in the first phase, Adat Egan’s side qualified for the quarter-finals in second place behind Mexico in Group C, with pre-tournament favourites Japan and England falling at the first hurdle. That feat has the young Nigerians believing they can go even further at the tournament. “Do we have the quality to win the title? Yes!” beamed Okoronkwo.
The Nigerians have been delighted by the atmosphere in the German stadiums and are hoping that will give them the extra motivation to go on and reach the final. “I’m very happy to be playing in this competition and to be enjoying this success. I really like the atmosphere here,” continued the Nasawara Amazons playmaker, who also appeared at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand two years ago.
Nigeria’s displays so far have attracted praise from numerous quarters, but Okoronkwo is well aware that the USA have been steadily moving through the gears as the tournament has progressed. She also knows she will have to be at the top of her game for Sunday’s encounter, saying: “It’s been going well for me so far, but I can still improve.”
Nonetheless, Okoronkwo maintains that the quality and strength of the Nigerian team will see them through against the overwhelming favourites from North America. “I think I’m a technically gifted player, but the key to our success as a team will be our spirit.” Ally those characteristics to a fierce will to win, and the Nigerians could indeed create history at Germany 2010 by reaching the last four for the very first time.