Payne reacts to being called 'The Regista' by Super Falcons fans, expects win v Ireland 

Sevilla star Toni Payne has assured that the Super Falcons will put up a better performance when they do battle with the Republic of Ireland in their final group game of the 2023 Fifa Women's World Cup.

The Birmingham, Alabama native is representing Nigeria in her first World Cup after pledging her international future to the African powerhouse four years ago.

One of the skillful and dynamic players in the Super Falcons squad, Payne is one of the first names on the team sheet because of her versatility as she can slot into midfield if the need arises and equally at home playing as a striker. 

She has caught the eye playing in her least preferred preferred position, with Super Falcons fans nicknaming her 'The Regista' for her impressive displays in the middle of the park. 

On her message to Super Falcons who have nicknamed her 'The Regista', Payne told Victor Modo: "Thank you so much for supporting us. Just keep following us, we are always looking to make Nigerians proud".

The Super Falcons have a good blend of experienced and young players in their team for the ongoing World Cup. 

Payne acknowledged that the make-up of the roster has helped the Super Falcons perform well in their first two games in Australia. 

On what Nigerians should expect from the game against Ireland, she said: "They should expect the same performance but a better performance from us. Our goal is to improve upon each game and get the win against Ireland".

Se added: "We have been playing together for a couple of years now and this being the final tournament we have been able to find a good mix of experienced players and some new talents so the cohesion is going really well, and we're ready to do it in the next game."

The Super Falcons are aiming to extend their unbeaten run in international matches to six games when they face the Republic of Ireland on Monday, with kickoff scheduled for 1100 hours.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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