‘I’m always hopeful’: Adekite Fatuga-Dada on Nigeria call-up ambitions | OneFootball

‘I’m always hopeful’: Adekite Fatuga-Dada on Nigeria call-up ambitions | OneFootball

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Her Football Hub

·6 February 2024

‘I’m always hopeful’: Adekite Fatuga-Dada on Nigeria call-up ambitions

Article image:‘I’m always hopeful’: Adekite Fatuga-Dada on Nigeria call-up ambitions

MK Dons’ Adekite Fatuga-Dada is hoping her club form will lead to her first Nigeria call-up. However, she knows it won’t be easy.

Having spent her entire career with Watford, Fatuga-Dada’s world was rocked when she was forced to find a new club. After helping the Golden Girls achieve promotion to the Championship, her contract was not extended. Naturally, this was something she found very difficult to come to terms with, even if it was slightly expected.


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“It was very tough to leave, it was a very emotional few days,” Fatuga-Dada told Her Football Hub. “It was so hard to leave the group of girls we had at the time. We formed a strong bond, we were relegated and promoted again the next season, so it was tough.”

Despite this initial setback, Fatuga-Dada has never let her bright ambitions and goals be dimmed. The MK Dons attacker is keen to become an international star.

Nigeria in the spotlight

There is growing media attention on the Nigerian Women’s team following their heroic run during the 2023 World Cup. The Super Falcons came close to knocking England out in their round of 16 clash. Nigeria forced the Lionesses to a penalty shootout after a nervy 0-0 draw.

Fatuga-Dada is hopeful of adding to that exciting squad in the near future, although she must take care of her club form for anything to come to fruition.

“I’ve always said, Nigeria are such an underrated country in terms of footballing success,” she said. “I used to have expectations and set targets, I do still set targets, but I kind of just work hard and then whatever happens, happens.

“I try not to set my sights too far ahead, I just try to keep my head down and work hard. I’m always hopeful and open to anything. Women’s football is global now, loads of people are always watching us and there are eyes everywhere. If you do well for your club then the world is your oyster.”

If MK Dons win their game in-hand, they go within five points of the top three in the National League South and Fatuga-Dada will be a big reason why they can have a strong campaign.

As the tricky attacker mentioned, there are eyes everywhere in football nowadays. All it takes is a string of solid performances for an international honour to come her way.

MORE from Her Football Hub:

  • Sarah Bouhaddi signs for Arsenal on short-term deal
  • Marc Skinner: ‘It would be a mockery’ if Man United exit Conti Cup
  • ‘I know I’m stereotyped’: Fatuga-Dada hopes for a change of perception toward African players
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