26th January, 2011
Already something of a seasoned international at the ripe old age of 18, Nigeriaâ€
Orji, the fifth out of seven children in a football-playing family, shares her experience in football in this interview with fifa.com
You were a member of the Falconets who played against Germany in the final of the 2010 FIFA Womenâ€
My target in Germany this time around is to reach the final of the competition, so that we can make history again as the first African country to play in the final of a competition of that magnitude.
Nigerians were not happy that the Super Falcons succumbed 8-0 to Germany in a friendly match last year. Are you and your colleagues ready to correct that impression and bounce back at the World Cup, where you are again drawn against the Germans?
Definitely! We are going to correct that mistake and impression. A lot of things contributed to that loss. The weather really affected us because it was freezing cold and many of us were not used to such unfriendly weather. So nobody can blame the team or our coaches for the result. If you watched our matches in the African Womenâ€
Sincerely speaking, what kind of success in Germany would make you satisfied?
I am sure that firstly we will come out of that group. We donâ€
If not for football what would Ebere Orji have been doing?
(Laughs) I would have been studying to become an accountant because I like the course so much anyway. But I am still grateful to God that football has given me fame and honour, and I am still working hard to achieve more success in the game in the nearest future.
Your best and worst moments in football?
I will start with the bad moment, and that was the day my team lost 3-2 in the quarter-finals against France in Chile at the 2008 U-20 Womenâ€
How did your parents celebrate your feat of playing in the final of the U-20 Womenâ€
I would say it was with mixed feelings because there was little sadness as that was the time I lost my dad. But I still thank God for everything because happiness returned to my family through my exploits in the World Cup. It was able to wipe away the sorrow caused by the death of my father.
Will you encourage your children to play football in the future if you get married?
Definitely I will encourage them, be it a boy or girl. As far as he or she has the interest to play, I will surely encourage them. But I will also encourage them to go to school, too, because this will also help them in the game.