Despite the penalty shootout loss to England in the Women’s World Cup round of 16, Super Falcons forward, Ifeoma Onumonu has praised the team’s “impressive” campaign.

Onumonu argues that the gulf between the Super Falcons and the powerhouses in the game is narrowing, as evident in their performance at the World Cup.

In the keenly contested game at the Suncorp Stadium, Nigeria’s recorded 20 attempts on goal against England, the European champions.

Speaking after the game, the 29 year-old Forward who plays her club football for Gotham FC in the NWSL, expressed confidence that the African team will step up even more.

“We’re on the rise and it’s growing,” Onumonu said, per Juliet Bawuah. “A lot of people don’t watch as much as they do Europe and so underestimate who we are, and what we are capable of. No one believed in us and now a lot of people are.”

“Other teams are catching up and growing, including us. There’s no longer going to be that one team that you are going to say they’re going to win. Every game will become a battle. Every game has become important.”

“As women start to play more internationals and at clubs, more and more teams are going to catch up. There’s a shift. A lot more are coming.”