Gift eyes more goals at WAFCON

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Washington Spirit and Nigeria forward Gift Monday says she is determined to add to her tally when the Super Falcons face Cameroon in Sunday’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final, having taken just four minutes to make her mark on tournament debut.

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Monday was introduced after Asisat Oshoala, who had earlier converted a penalty in the 21st minute, went off with a knock, and the substitute needed only four minutes to get on the scoresheet in first-half stoppage time, converting from close range with her left foot after a low cross from Rinsola Babajide.

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It was one of the better worked goals of the Super Falcons’ campaign.

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Babajide had taken a short corner from Toni Payne before gliding past a marker to send in the cross, and Monday, with three defenders around her, timed her run to perfection to peel away from the Egyptian defence at the last moment.

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The goal extended Nigeria’s lead to 2-1 after Egypt had pulled one back through Nadine Ghazi’s penalty, and Monday went on to set up a further goal as the Super Falcons eventually ran out 6-2 winners in Rabat to seal their place in the last eight.

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“I feel really happy,” Monday said after the game. “I am so honoured. I feel grateful for the opportunity and also for the chance that I got, and all thanks to my teammates. I’m also grateful to my teammate for creating the opportunity for me to score.”

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Monday’s inclusion in Nigeria coach Justin Madugu’s squad had not been straightforward. She was a controversial omission from the last WAFCON, having enjoyed an impressive first season in the NWSL after joining Washington from Spain’s UD Tenerife, and only the Super Falcons’ eventual triumph in that tournament quelled the outcry over her absence.

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She was again overlooked for Nigeria’s WAFCON qualifiers against Benin Republic in October, before earning a recall for friendlies against Cameroon earlier this year.

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With limited preparation time this summer, and having arrived late in camp alongside Spirit teammate Deborah Abiodun because of flight delays, Monday found herself an unused substitute for Nigeria’s opening two group games.

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She said she had no complaints about the wait for her chance. “As a player, I so much believe in opportunities and time, and as you can see, the girls that have been playing have been doing fantastically well,” Monday said. “The most important thing is that we are getting the results as a team, which is very good for me and also for the team.”

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Ahead of Sunday’s quarter-final, the forward said she was not taking her place in the side for granted despite her impact off the bench.

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“I’m just going to go back to the training ground, try to push myself, try to improve in my game because I feel like even with the result we got in that game, I feel like I can still do better,” she said.

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