mostob:
Na those NFF people now. I doubt Danjuma and Olowookere have any coaching License sef. Like you said, they're just handlers.

naptu2:
Are you guys listening to Osasu & Colin's spaces?

naptu2:
Are you guys listening to Osasu & Colin's spaces?

lovewins:


Yes. Was off for sometime though.

Did they mention anything related to the falcons?

mostob:
Please share as you normally do.

naptu2:
Africa's representatives at the 2024 FIFA U17 Women's World Cup are:

Nigeria, Zambia and Kenya.

naptu2:
Africa's representatives at the 2024 FIFA U17 Women's World Cup are:

Nigeria, Zambia and Kenya.

PDPGuy:

I believe Kenya will be making their debut at a FIFA women’s tournament, as a result of this qualification

Deltamani:
Nigeria icon Oshoala on Olympics, legacy and following her heart

Superstar attacker discusses medal target, why 'no-one can break' Nigeria, Bay FC move and LeBron James admiration.


A modern-day women's football icon, Asisat Oshoala has starred for club and country on some of the game's greatest stages. The Nigerian striker has lit up FIFA Women's World Cup™ matches, UEFA Champions League finals, and helped fire her teams to multiple trophy successes.

Her electrifying skills have yet to be showcased at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament – but that’s all set to change at Paris 2024. Nigeria have qualified for the competition for the first time since 2008, and Oshoala is primed to spearhead the Super Falcons’ charge in France.

“This will be a special event,” she told FIFA. “I’ve never been to the Olympics before, but I’ve heard a lot about it. I’m looking forward to it so much – if I make the team!”

Nigeria have been handed one of the toughest draws imaginable at Paris 2024. They will take on Brazil, Japan and Spain in Group C and – on paper at least – appear to face an uphill battle to reach the knockout phase. All of Nigeria’s opponents are in the top ten of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking, with the African side currently placed 36th.

“At the World Cup last year, people said the same thing,” said Oshoala. “They said we were in the Group of Death [with Australia, Canada and the Republic of Ireland] and could not qualify. But we did. I have a lot of confidence in this team. We have many young players and we can make things difficult for our opponents. We don’t just think about getting out of the group, I think we can actually walk away with a medal.”


This has already been a hugely significant year in Oshoala’s glittering career, with the attacker having transferred from Barcelona to Bay FC, a newly formed NWSL side based in San Jose.

The 29-year-old admitted it was a “tough decision” to leave Barça – where she won 14 trophies and was part of arguably the finest club team on the planet – but “followed her heart” to embark on her Stateside adventure.

“I was very comfortable at Barcelona, but I wanted to experience being at the start of something new,” said Oshoala, who scored 117 goals in 162 appearances for the Spanish club. “As soon as I heard about the project at Bay FC, I was very excited. I love what I do, and I make decisions based on what makes me happy. It's been pretty amazing here so far.”

Oshoala’s adjustment to life in San Jose, she revealed, has been aided by the city’s “good people and good food”.

“There are a lot of nice African restaurants, so that keeps me going!”


Bay FC’s results have been mixed in their inaugural NWSL season, but Oshoala is convinced they will make steady improvements as their squad continues to gel.

“Some of the girls knew each other [before joining Bay FC], but many of us had not met before. It was basically the first time everyone had come together to play in the same team. Everyone has been so professional. All we can do is keep giving everything to get better and better.”

Six months on from swapping Catalonia for California, Oshoala is expected to go head-to-head with several of her former Barcelona team-mates when Nigeria face Spain in their second group match at Paris 2024.

“It's gonna be fun! Before the World Cup, we had this chat within ourselves on the team. We all wanted to play each other, but we didn't get drawn in the same group. We all still keep in touch. It will be a cool experience.”

Oshoala will strive to lead from the front during Nigeria’s Olympic campaign – and she believes the team’s relentless energy makes them a force to be reckoned with.

“I know what I can do,” she said. “I know what I offer on and off the pitch. Even when I was at the best team in the world, I knew what I could contribute.

"I always encourage the younger ones and help them understand they can give even more. I work hard for the team and try to make sure I do my part of the business – and that way everyone takes care of their business as well. “We're a team that won't stop running until we hear the whistle. That's difficult for the opposition teams, because they can't break us.”


While Nigeria have yet to advance beyond the last eight in three appearances at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, their men’s team boast a rich history at the Games.

Their gold-medal winning team at Atlanta 1996 featured a dazzling array of stars including the likes of the Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Ikpeba, Taribo West and Sunday Oliseh.

“I know quite a few guys from the team,” Oshoala said. “When I go to the CAF awards, they always come over and say hi. We’ve had lunch together and they’re a really nice group of people.

"What they did at the Olympics was amazing. The male side have had great results even more recently too [they won silver at Beijing 2008 and bronze at Rio 2016]. I hope we can follow them.”


Nigeria will kick off their Olympic campaign against Brazil in Bordeaux before travelling north to Nantes for their clashes with Spain and Japan. Oshoala revealed she has some extra motivation for progressing all the way to the gold-medal match, which will be held in Paris on 10 August.

When asked what aspect of the Olympic experience she is most excited about, she replied: “If I tell you, you might think it’s a bit weird! I want my team to go far so I can go to Paris for the basketball. That's something I really want to do in France. If I could see a game or even see those players move around the campus, I’d love that.”

There is one basketball superstar in particular Oshoala would like to watch in action

“I love LeBron James. I like to see people have an impact outside their sport, and that's what I see in LeBron. He has a foundation, he’s built a school… These are things that are even bigger than basketball. That’s why he’s my favourite player.”

Oshoala’s influence, too, stretches far beyond her incredible feats on the field. In 2015, she launched the Asisat Oshoala Foundation, which aims to use sport to empower young girls in her home country.

As a teenager, Oshoala was discouraged from pursuing her football passion by her parents, who believed it would negatively affect her education. She explained how challenging this prevailing belief in Nigeria is one of her charity’s major objective.

“We’ve given hope to young girls, created opportunities for them, taught life skills and changed lives,” she said. “We have educated parents, making sure they understand there's a way of merging education and sports together, because where I come from, most parents think you have to stop sport just to focus on studying. As I said about LeBron, some things are just bigger than personal achievements, and my foundation is one of those.”

When Oshoala steps out to represent Nigeria at Paris 2024, she will do so with an acute sense of responsibility.

“I know how many kids watch my games,” she added. “When I go out there, I will always give 100 per cent because if you're not at the top [of the sport], it's going to be difficult for people to look up to you. The Olympics is so special, but it’s going to be tough too. I need to work hard so I can come out with my head held high and say, ‘Okay, I know I did my best’.”

GeneralDae:

Is it that Ghana didn’t participate in the qualifiers?

BascoVanVeli:
I guess Ifeoma won't be at the Olympics. She's still out of action.

BascoVanVeli:
I guess Ifeoma won't be at the Olympics. She's still out of action.

Deltamani:


It looks certain as her Ankle injury isn’t a small one as I have thought.. Anyway her position is already covered with Chinwendu Ihezuo inform..

The good thing is we would get Ashleigh Plumptre and Blessing Demehin back!💯

Ashleigh recovery have been top notch, she did her surgery at Aspetar arguably one of the best Orthopedics and sports Medicine Hospital (France International Amel Majri did her ACL rehab there. A recovery procedure have been so so professional, this you what you get from Players that knows their worth and understand the game..

Deltamani:
Official: Toni Gordo, Barça Femení’s tactical analyst, leaves the club.

lovewins:


Baba, it's less than one month till camp opens. I'll be happy if both Ash and Blessing are ready but really doubt it they will be.

mostob:
What is going on at Barca? Everybody is just moving. Heard Kiera walsh is negotiating with Arsenal.

Deltamani:


They both should be ready but if they ain’t!

I wouldn’t want to see Christy Ucheibe at CB, it’s more like reducing her effectiveness, cause in Midfield the team will benefit a lot from her massive Work rate as she will cover a lot of ground...

Nicole Payne, Osinachi Ohale, Michelle Alozie and Chidinma Okeke are the only ones left there…!

Where does Randy go picking another CB from? Akudo Ogbonna of Remo Star Ladies 🇳🇬, Maureen Umeh of Nantes FC 🇫🇷, Onyinyechi Zogg of Servette FC🇨🇭 or U20 Oladipo Shukurat of FC Robo🇳🇬 ? By the way the time frame is too short to do that right away..!

Don’t

lovewins:


I'll rather Christy at CB if none of them makes it. Not sure Umeh or Zogg has any chance. I don't see Randy calling new players to camp, will be surprised if he does. Shukurat probably has a better chance than those two. I'll like to see Umeh soon though, like her height.

Deltamani:


Don’t think Kiera Walsh will leave, but with Alexia returning to form the Barcelona Midfield might return to the trio of Patri, Alexia and Aitana.

Walsh is a very Calm DM who already have that Barca DNA in her it would be hard to let her go, At the end Minutes will be shared as they’re all World Class players.. Alexia might not accept that coming from the Bench role as she’s one of the biggest face of Barca and Spain if not the Biggest..

Walsh is Primarily England no.1 player in Midfield who hold both Defense and the midfield together, Meeen is hard the Coaches should deal with that as All Big team would want to have any of Barca top 4 Midfielders right away..

mostob:
Well said... I just think Walsh may not want to share minutes. Moreso, from the report, it seems she prefers a return to her country.

mostob:
Well said... I just think Walsh may not want to share minutes. Moreso, from the report, it seems she prefers a return to her country.