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Nigeria captain, Onome Ebi, says the nine-time African champions have no reason lose against Australia on Thursday as they seek more money from the tournament, PRIMANEWS Sports Extra reports.
Ebi who aims to play a part in the encounter having missed out in the goalless draw with Canada, added that the Falcons will play more adventurously against the Matildas at the Lang Park.
“It is interesting that they have an idea of how to play us,”Ebi told thenff.com.
“We also have our own idea of how to play them (Australia). It is a very crucial game for us and we will throw everything we have into it.
“It is very important to us to collect the three points on Thursday. That will put us in a great position before we play the Irish.”
With the championship hosting 32 teams, it means only two top-placed teams in each will make progress to the knock-out rounds, where more cash is available for the players.
Ebi said the Falcons also want to earn more money in the tournament, with the sum of $60,000 to go to each player whose team attains the round of 16, and $90,000 for any team that gets to the quarter finals. Players of teams that exit the group stage will only earn $30,000 each.
“Much more than money, it is a matter of pride. Of course, we will like the money. However, Nigeria comes first. We were in the quarter-finals in 1999 and that is a long time ago; we want to work to go far in this tournament.
“Last time, in France, we got to the round of 16. We are looking beyond the group stage here,” Ebi stated.
A win for the Falcons will boost their chances of qualifying for the round of 16 – a feat they reached at the last edition in France.
For Australia, victory will take them to six points and all but guarantee a place in the round of 16, ahead of their much-anticipated clash with Olympic champions Canada.
The Falcons are the only African team to have earned a point at the Women’s World Cup after their first round of matches, with other flagbearers Zambia, South Africa and Morocco having been denied of any point by their respective opponents.

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