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Tag: Asisat Oshoala

  • Asisat Oshoala allegedly quits Super Falcons

    Asisat Oshoala allegedly quits Super Falcons

    Asisat Oshoala,  a Nigerian football legend and six-time African Player of the Year, has announced her retirement from the national team, the Super Falcons.

    TheNewsGuru reports that her announcement is coming ahead of Tuesday’s semi-final clash between Nigeria and South Africa at the ongoing 2024 Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Casablanca, Morocco.

    Oshoala, who played for Barcelona Femeni, announced her decision to quit the Super Falcons on Facebook on Monday night.

    According to the ThisDay, the Arsenal Women striker said her decision was a necessary step to allow emerging talents the opportunity to shine on the global stage.

    “At 30, with six African Women’s Best Player awards, I will bow out to start a new chapter after WAFCON 2024/25,” she wrote on Facebook.

    “Thank you for your unwavering support. I’m forever grateful for the love and sacrifices shared with me throughout this journey.”

    Oshoala has won a record six CAF Women’s Player of the Year titles (2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2023), making her the most decorated player in the history of African women’s football.

  • Paris 2024: Angry Oshoala reacts to being benched against Brazil

    Paris 2024: Angry Oshoala reacts to being benched against Brazil

    Bay FC of United States attacker and six-time African Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala appears very angry to the extent of dropping an indirect message for coach  Randy Waldrum.

    Oshoala, seemed to send a message to head coach Waldrum for leaving her on the bench during the match against Brazil, despite the team needing a goal.

    She reshared a post on her Instagram story that read, “I won’t be remembered as the woman who kept her mouth shut,” and captioned it with four laughing emojis.

    Recall that the Super Falcons lost by 1- 0 to nil against Brazil in group C opener at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic games.

    The Nigeria ladies are first from bottom after the first round of matches in a group that comprises Spain, Japan and Brazil.

    Spain are on top after defeating Japan 2-1, Brazil come in second while the Asian ladies occupy the 3rd position at the moment.

  • Paris 2024: Super Falcons camp bubbles with the arrival of Asisat Oshoala

    Paris 2024: Super Falcons camp bubbles with the arrival of Asisat Oshoala

    The Super Falcons camp in Seville, Spain is swelling with the arrival of the current African women’s Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala.

    The Super Falcons set up camp at the Jerez de la Frontera last weekend to prepare for the 2024 Olympic Games.

    The number of players in camp has increased to 15 with the arrival of the Bays FC of United States forward.

    Seven more players are being expected in camp.

    Ifeoma Onumonu was named as replacement for the injured Halimat Ayinde on Tuesday.

    Midfielder Regina Otu will now take Onumonu’s place in the alternate players slot.

    The Super Falcons will take on Canada in a friendly next week Wednesday before departing for Paris a day later.

  • UEFA picks Oshoala’s stunning bicycle kick as goal of the season

    UEFA picks Oshoala’s stunning bicycle kick as goal of the season

    Super Falcons forward, Asisat Oshoala has been awarded   the UEFA Women’s Champions Goal of the Season award.

    The African female footballer of the year scored a beautiful bicycle kick goal in a matchday one encounter against Benfica.

    The UEFA’s Technical Observer panel selected Oshoala’s goal among many others but the Nigerian stood out completely with her stunning Bicycle kick goal.

    The striker’s former Barcelona teammate Aitana Bonmati took second spot for her bending effort in the quarter-final second-leg win against Brann.

    Lyon’s Delphine Cascarino came third for her long-range strike in the quarter-final second-leg victory over Benfica.

    Oshoala quit Barcelona for National Women Soccer League (NWSL) club Bay FC in February.

    On her NWSL debut, she scored Bay FC’s winner in the 1-0 victory over Angels City.

  • Paris 2024: Oshoala set to feature against Banyana Banyana in Pretoria

    Paris 2024: Oshoala set to feature against Banyana Banyana in Pretoria

    Bay FC of United States striker, Asisat Oshoala has been cleared to face the Banyana Banyana of South Africa in today’s 2024 Olympic Games qualifier.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Oshoala missed the first leg after arriving camp  a day before the first leg fixture in Abuja.

    There were also concern over her fitness level as she trained separately from her teammates.

    Head coach, Randy Waldrum also refused to offer assurances on her availability for the return leg.

    But the African footballer of the year  according to reports, is now available to face the African champions after taking part in the team’s last two training sessions.

    The Super Falcons won the first leg 1-0 in Abuja courtesy of Rasheedat Ajibade 43rd penalty goal.

    The second leg fixture will be held at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria will kick-off at 6:30pm Nigeria time.

    The overall winner of this fixture will be one of Africa’s representatives at the Paris 2024 Olympics billed for July of this year.

     

  • Paris 2024: Why I didn’t feature Asisat Oshoala against South Africa – Randy Waldrum

    Paris 2024: Why I didn’t feature Asisat Oshoala against South Africa – Randy Waldrum

    Super Falcons coach, Randy Waldrum has opened up on reasons why female African footballer of the year and Bay FC of United States striker, Asissat Oshoala did not feature in yesterday’s Olympic qualifier against the Banyana Banyana of South Africa.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Super Falcons secured a slim victory over the South Africans courtesy of Rasheedat Ajibade’s 43rd minute penalty goal.

    Ajibade’s goal managed to be the only goal of the encounter as both goalkeeper made saves to deny opponents from scoring.

    Speaking during the post match conference, Waldrum said he didn’t feature Oshoala because she got to camp late and was suffering from jet lag.

    He added that he will assess her fitness level to be able to decide if the Bay FC striker would feature in the reverse feature coming up next week in Pretoria, South Africa.

    “Asisat just arrived camp and obviously and visibly she looks tired from the long travels she had, this explains why I didn’t feature her in the game.

    “I will access her fitness level to be able to decide if she will feature in the reverse fixture taking place next week in South Africa,” Waldrum said.

    The Super Falcons coach during the post-match media briefing at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, went further to say the team lost several scoring chances in spite of the lone goal victory over Banyana Banyana of South Africa on Friday in Abuja.

    Waldrum also said that it was unfortunate that the Super Falcons failed to score more than a goal in the match they dominated defensively.

    A well-taken 42nd minute penalty by Captain Rasheedat Ajibade separated both sides in the game. Nigeria, however, heads to the return leg in South Africa on Tuesday, hoping to pick a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics after 16 years of absence.

    “I thought we were a bit unfortunate not to have at least two or three goals victory tonight but I think the team played well. I thought we were good defensively considering we had some new players at the back as we missed players like Ashleigh Plumptre and Tosin Demehim.

    “I think the back four stood very strong. I can only remember two good opportunities that they (South Africa) had. Overall I thought we could have controlled the game well, try to finish up with the opportunities we had.

    “But the bottom line is, we have one game left and we have to get the result,” Waldrum said.

    Tuesday’s return leg at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria is still so much to play for with the Falcons only a goal up in the fixture.

    The Banyana Banyana will fly back to Johannesburg on Saturday morning while the Super Falcons will fly out of Lagos on Sunday night.

  • AFCON 2023: Oshoala opens up on expectations from Super Eagles

    AFCON 2023: Oshoala opens up on expectations from Super Eagles

    Nigerian footballer Asisat Oshoala has opened on her expectations on the upcoming 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) coming up in January 2024.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Oshoala to have said she does not expect anything out of the tournament than total victory for the Super Eagles.

    “Nothing, nothing to expect other than Super Eagles winning every game. We’re going for Gold. We have this calibre of superstars and it’s about football.

    “I feel like the guys are actually mentally ready, and I feel like they’re going to have a good outcome,” she said.

    TNG reports Oshoala made these comments on Thursday when she presented her award to President Bola Tinubu and First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu in Lagos State.

    She had won the African Women Footballer of the Year, an annual award for Africa’s best female football player.

    The award was conferred on Asisat in December by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

    Oshoala has won the award a record six times.

    She said the presentation was in recognition of the support of the first couple towards her successful outing at the tourney.

    ”I really love to appreciate the President and the First Lady for actually giving me the opportunity to present their work to them. Because I feel like during the World Cup tournament, we had a couple of issues.

    ”They came in to actually help us out and especially monitoring after the tournament, she actually stretched supportive hand towards the girls.

    ”If something good is coming out of that team, I think it’s only right for her to be aware; she knows that we really do appreciate that support,” she said.

    TNG reports Oshoala, widely regarded as one of the greatest African female footballers of all time and one of the best in the world, is one of the most celebrated African female footballers of all times.

    Meanwhile, the 34th edition of AFCON, the biggest sports event on African soil, will take place from January 13 to February 11, 2024 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

  • CAF Awards: Gusau hails Osimhen, Oshoala, Nnadozie, Falcons as Nigeria win big in Morocco

    CAF Awards: Gusau hails Osimhen, Oshoala, Nnadozie, Falcons as Nigeria win big in Morocco

    President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau was a very happy man on Monday night, as Nigeria swept important honours at this year’s CAF Football Awards held in Marrakech, Morocco.

     

    The NFF supremo was personally present at the Hotel Movenpick and collected the first honour that came Nigeria’s way – Women’s National Team of the Year. He dedicated the award to all women football teams on the African continent.

     

    Chiamaka Nnadozie, who shone brightly at the FIFA World Cup finals in Down Under this year summer as the Super Falcons reached the Round of 16, was the undoubted winner of the honour of Goalkeeper of the Year (Women). The Paris FC of France safe hands made a moving speech: “To all the young girls growing up in Africa, dreaming of becoming a footballer one day, believe me dreams do come true. My dad didn’t want me to play football but I’m sure he’s gonna see this and be happy. So, keep dreaming, keep working and I believe that one day you’ll get to this stage.”

     

    After Asisat Oshoala won a record-extending sixth award as Player of the Year (Women), the auditorium went silent as it was time to present the men’s version. Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah were the final three.

     

    Osimhen was crowned, becoming the first Nigeria player in 24 years to take the gong. The last person was Nwankwo Kanu, back in 1999. Kanu also won in 1996, after Rashidi Yekini in 1993 and Emmanuel Amuneke in 1994. Victor Ikpeba took the crown in 1997.

     

    Gusau said: “I am very excited tonight. This has been hugely rewarding for our football and for our country as a whole. I congratulate Osimhen, Oshoala and Nnadozie, and I congratulate the Super Falcons as a team for bringing us this honour.

     

    “My charge would be that they all keep doing what they know how to do best, keep improving and keep winning. The sky will be the beginning for them.”  

     

    Osimhen became the first player in the history of the African Football Awards to have been crowned Player of the Year (Men) after having pocketed the Young Player of the Year (Men) in an earlier year. Only last Monday, the 24-year-old was crowned the 2022/2023 Player of the Year in Italy’s Serie A, after having won the Young Player of the Year in the same league in the 2021/2022 season. 

  • CAF Awards: Agba Baller, Oshoala scoops sixth African female footballer of the year

    CAF Awards: Agba Baller, Oshoala scoops sixth African female footballer of the year

    Super Falcons and Barcelona Femeni  striker, Asisat Oshoala, has won the 2023 CAF Women’s Player of The Year at the  Confederation of African Football awards.

    The award makes Oshoala’s Sixth award in the category.

    “This night, I would love to use this opportunity to thank everyone who has been part of my journey from grassroots football to the national level to the club side. Because without you, my coaches, and my teammates, there will be no me,” Oshoal said in her acceptance speech.

    “Football is a team sport; it’s a team game and I urge all the federations in Africa to please come together; let’s work together and build our continent. Let’s make it the best in the world.

    “It is very possible; it happened in the last men’s World Cup; we saw what happened, and we shocked the world. In the last World Cup, all the national teams that represented Africa in Australia made history.

    “And I believe that before the next World Cup, we can get better, we can do better and we can win it for sure. Because at the end of the day, if we don’t support ourselves, nobody will come to Africa; nobody will come to this continent to support us.

    “We have to work together as a team because football is a team sport. Let’s start at home and go to the world and conquer it.”

  • CAF Awads: D-Day for Osimhen, Oshoala, others as ceremony holds today in Morocco

    CAF Awads: D-Day for Osimhen, Oshoala, others as ceremony holds today in Morocco

    Marrakech city in the North African country of Morocco is agog as the much anticipated CAF Awards 2023 will be held at the Palais des Congrès later tonight.

    For the first time in a long while, a Super Eagles player will have a shot on the African footballer of the year plaque which has eluded for a while.

    Super Eagles Victor Osimhen looks set to clinch the title for the first time in 24 years since Kanu Nwankwo last won the title.

    Osimhen will slug it out with Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah and PSG’s Achraf Hakimi.

    Nigerian duo Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala as they look to claim the ultimate prize in the men’s and women’s categories.

    Osimhen is in contention for the Men’s Player of the Year with Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah.

    Osimhen posted a heroic performance for clun and country last season guiding the Partenopei to their first title in 33 years.

    The 24 year-old scored 26 goals in 32 appearances for the Partenopei

    Osimhen also scored five goals in six appearances for the Naples club in the UEFA Champions League.

    On the international scene, he scored 10 goals in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.

    For Barcelona Femeni’s star Oshoala, claiming the top prize will see her become the first woman to win the award for a record-extending sixth time.

    The striker claimed a record fifth crown a year ago in Rabat, Morocco.

    Similarly, Chiamaka Nnadozie, also made the last three for the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year. She earned her nomination owing to her heroic performance for the Super Falcons at the World Cup and for clubsides Paris FC of France.

    Known as Ngolo Kante of women football, Super Falcons defensive Midfielder, Deborah Abiodun has also been nominated in the Young Player of the Year category.