CAFWCL: Bayelsa Queens Flourish Sabastine Targets Personal Awards And Title

CAFWCL: Bayelsa Queens Flourish Sabastine Targets Personal Awards And Title

Ibraheem Lateef Ayodele

Falconet and Bayelsa United Flourish Sabastine says her ambition is to claim the Golden Boot, Player of the Tournament award and the CAF Women's Champions League coveted trophy.

The 18-year-old winger was nominated for the 2022 CAF Young of the Year award following her goal-scoring impact in Nigeria's qualification to the U20 Women's World Cup in Costa Rica, where her only goal was the winner against France in August.

The Nigeria international, who gained inspiration from Rasheedat Ajibade and was instrumental to Bayelsa's regional success, having won the WAFU-B Player of the Tournament, now believes she can do even better in Morocco.

CAFOnline: How does it feel making the Bayelsa squad to the Women's Champions League for the first time?

First and foremost, I want to say a very big thank you to the coaches, the technical crew and the team the Bayelsa team, for being on the list for this CAF Women's Champions League. Words can't express how grateful, I'm so happy to be on the list for this competition. This has been one of my plans and my dreams, it's like a dream coming through, so I'm very happy and excited to be in Morocco.

What was the feeling like to compete at the WAFU-B qualifiers immediately after exiting the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup?

It's like I see myself coming to be given a second chance because my performance wasn't good enough at the U20 Women's World Cup and by joining the WAFU-B, I knew I needed to prove a point because when I play, they will see the passion in me. I had pains and disappointment coming back from Costa Rica as I was not happy with myself for not helping my country to the World Cup final. So, joining the team in Cote d'Ivoire for WAFU B, I needed to show myself, what I can still do to help the team.

Despite joining the WAFU-B qualifier midway, how do you feel about ending up winning the Player of the Tournament and will that feat motivate you to do even better in Morocco?

Well at the WAFU B, my performance was not that too okay for me. I don't know about others watching, but for me, the performance was far from my expectations because I joined the team at the competition, but I didn't start it. Without boasting, I knew that the tough challenge I faced at U20 Women's World Cup where I met top world stars can't be compared with the level WAFU-B which was a qualification tournament within Africa. Now in Morocco, I'm going to start with the team and I believe I will be able to help my team to reach the finals. Not only just playing but putting our best into it.

Now, you are in Morocco, what are your dreams and personal targets for their first appearance at the Champions League?

My dream is to reach the final of this competition and also to be the best player in the tournament and win the highest goal scorer. If possible, I want to win everything because this is the dream I missed achieving at the U20 Women's World Cup in Costa Rica. In Morocco, I want to give my very best to be on the list of award winners as the best player or highest goal scorer.

Rivers Angels failed to make Nigeria proud last year, what is the chance of Bayelsa Queens in this year's edition?

I have confidence in my teammates because we have been training so hard as a team. Rivers Angels could not win last year but we are not here to play only as a Bayelsa team we are going to play as Nigerians and hope to represent our country very well. We need to justify the confidence reposed in us and believe in ourselves. I know that we can do it even though our group isn't the easiest, but I know that we will progress to the next round.

In 2022, you were nominated for the CAF Young Player of the Year and also made your senior debut for Nigeria before age 18, what do these feats mean to you and your glowing career?

For the award, I'm so grateful and appreciate those who nominated me for the CAF award. I appreciate it because it's an honour and I'm very happy about it. For the national team, I'm so happy to be in the midst and also play for Super Falcons. Being in the midst of those I cherished their style of play - like Ngozi Okobi, Rasheedat Ajibade, Uchenna Kalu and so forth. It's something else as per the experience I got from there is not what I can describe in words. Playing or not, just being in their midst gives me joy and full confidence in my game because I learned a lot from them.