mind back four years to the final between the Super Falconets and the
host nation at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Germany 2010. "I was on
the bench feeling really nervous and apprehensive, hoping that my team
would score."
Her team did not score, with Die Mannschaft running out 2-0 winners.
But as fate would have it, Sunday and her team-mates will have the
opportunity to avenge that result in Montreal tomorrow.
"It's going to be a different story this time," she vowed to FIFA.com.
"In 2010 they were playing at home, with all their fans behind them,
but that won't be the case here. This final against Germany is also
coming at a good time for me, because I've got a lot more experience
now."
Sunday was a mere 15-year-old when she represented her country at
Germany 2010 and is the only member of Nigeria's Canada 2014 squad who
was present at those finals. "I was the youngest player in the team
but I had two friends with me and they helped me a lot during the
competition," she explained. "They kept encouraging me the whole
time."
Older and wiser, Sunday is now offering support to her most
inexperienced team-mates and to the team as a whole, chipping in with
three goals despite having started every game on the bench, two of
those strikes coming straight after entering the fray. Though happy
with her haul, she still has one objective to fulfil: "I usually score
a lot of goals with my head but I haven't got one in Canada yet. Maybe
it'll come on Sunday."
Doing it the hard way
As she went on to explain, Sunday has had to fight hard to get where
she is today: "I started out playing in the street with the boys after
school. We played on dirt pitches. Then I enrolled at an academy but
it's not easy to play football in Nigeria, especially if you're a
girl. What you need in situations like that is for your parents to
support you, which is what mine did. It gives you the strength to
carry on."
The forward was rewarded for her perseverance with that trip to
Germany 2010 and a call-up to the full national team in 2011, though
she missed out on a place in the U-20 side that travelled to Japan
2012, a setback that has only stiffened her resolve ahead of Sunday's
showdown. "This final is very special for me," she said in
anticipation of it.
The Super Falconets have been preparing for the occasion for a long
time, having already spent three months away from their families.
"It's a lot easier thanks to mobiles and the internet," said Sunday.
"I talk to them a lot on Skype and they're very happy for me. When we
speak my mother always shouts: 'Hey that's my daughter! You're doing
great. I'm very proud of you'."
Bursting into a laugh, Sunday added: "I tell you one thing: I can't
wait to get home. I'm dying to see them all, especially my mum."
Nigeria not alone
When she returns to her home town of Port Harcourt, Sunday will go
back to watching her beloved Liverpool. "They're my team! I love the
way they play, and I adore Steven Gerrard and the whole 'You'll Never
Walk Alone' thing."
Nigeria have not been walking alone in Canada, where a loyal band of
fans has been cheering them on at every match and is sure to be doing
so again come the final in Montreal.
For their part, the players are planning to repeat their customary
pre-match ritual and sing and dance their way to the Olympic Stadium.
"We have to sing and dance even more this Sunday," said the fun-loving
forward. "We have to make even more noise."
Rounding off our chat on a typically optimistic note, Sunday spoke of
her hopes of avenging that final defeat four years ago: "The only
thing that's in my mind is that I can't lose two finals, and both of
them to Germany. We've got to win this Sunday. I don't care how. And
we're going to do it too."
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