City, State/Country – Gift Monday no fit hide her disappointment as dem no include her for the squad wey go represent Nigeria for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) wey go happen for Morocco. Dis 23-year-old forward don dey shine like wetin dem go carry enter market, as she don score ten goals for her club before she make smooth move to Washington Spirit for USA, where she don add four more goals and one assist to her collection.
But as di coach Justin Madugu dey shuffle im cards, e decide say make no place for Gift, instead e go call back old timers like Asisat Oshoala and Francisca Ordega, while e anything-weird go bring Chioma Okafor wey dey come from Malawi into di mix. Wetin dey happen, na dem dey use di old horses ride di race abi wetin?
When Monday see di final list, she no fit koko am. In her words, she talk say, “Sometimes di hardest moments reveal di strength of our hearts. I dey see di official squad list and yes, my name no dey there.” She even add say no be fitness wahala wey dey hold am back, but na coaching staff decision wey dey scatter her mind like jollof wey done cool.
“E dey pain me, and e no easy, but I no dey hold any grudge o. I dey fit, I dey in love with di game and our green white green jersey. Even if I no dey waka for pitch, my heart go dey with una every step wey una take. I go dey watch, I go dey believe, and one day, I go come back.” Chai! Dis babe sabi how to ginger padi mood, e be like say we don collect am from di motivational speaker school.
Monday don start im international career since 2018 for FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup wey happen for France. For 2019, she lead Nigeria carry African Games gold medal – di first one in 12 years – after dem win Cameroon for penalty shootout. She don also shine for di Turkish Women’s Cup in 2021 and part of di Super Falcons squad wey go WAFCON for 2022 and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. But e be like say di universe dey play rough as this no be di first time dem dey skip her name. Last year, dem also name am as alternate player for di Olympic qualifiers. Alpha female, beta situation!
Though she don face two national team disappointments in less than a year, di energy wey dey burst from her na pure determination. She be like saitama wey no dey give up. E just dey show say make we no sleep on wetin fit drop for our table tomorrow. One day, na im go show dem say she fit do am better. Super Falcons, make we no dull, e fit still be sweet reunion for di next tournament!
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