Super Falcons star Echegini frustrated with lack of playing time at WAFCON

Nigeria women’s national team midfielder Jennifer Echegini has openly come out to express her frustration at a lack of playing time with the Super Falcons at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nation (WAFCON) in Morocco.

With the Super Falcons already qualified for the quarterfinals after back-to-back victories, Echegini is yet to start in either of the two Group B matches, only managing a substitute role against Botswana and Tunisia.

“Everybody wants to start a game and everybody wants to play ninety minutes but at the end of the day the coaches have the responsibility to pick the team,” the 24-year-old Echegini told reporters as quoted by Allnigeriasoccer.

“Unfortunately for me, it hasn’t been exactly how I want it but the tournament alone, we have a total of about five or six games, so things could change, so if I were to be given the opportunity, I would be very excited.”

Echegini, however, refused to back down in her quest to represent the Super Falcons: “I think as a player when you play at the national team level it is always good to remind yourself that it is an honour and privilege to represent your country.”

On the tight schedule at the WAFCON, she said: “We feel very prepared and have been trying hard. I mean the journey to training is not ideal but it is just something we have to deal with. At the end of the day, we are all professionals so we’re used to something like this.

“We all know what’s best for our bodies. Fortunately, the game is at night tomorrow, so we will have time to recover to make sure we are ready to go for ninety minutes tomorrow.”

Nigeria, who are topping their group, will wind up their preliminary matches against Algeria at Stade Larbi Zaouli on Sunday.