The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Asisat Oshoala

  • U-18 TOURNEY: Oshoala drags Onazi, Omeruo, AY to Lagos on Boxing Day

    U-18 TOURNEY: Oshoala drags Onazi, Omeruo, AY to Lagos on Boxing Day

     

    Nigeria internationals including Obafemi Martins, Ogenyi Onazi, Kenneth Omeruo and Imoh Ezekiel will feature against celebrities like AY, Akpororo in a novelty match as part of activities marking the final of the 2nd edition of Asisat Oshoala U-18 invitational football Competition billed to hold on 26th of December, 2016 boxing day at the popular Campos Mini Stadium, Joseph Street, Lagos Island, Lagos.

    The competition sponsored by Super Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala and organized by First Class Sports Marketing in partnership with Emzor Pharmaceuticals and Nairabet kicked off on Wednesday with preliminary matches involving 14 teams.
    The semi finals was held on Thursday while the third place match and the final will hold on the 26th of this month.

    Winner of the competition will go home with the sum of N200,000, second placed team will get N140,000, while the third placed team will be rewarded with
    N100,000.
    Speaking at an event proceeding the final in Lagos on Thursday, Oshoala said the tournament is not just a football competition but an historical event planned to give back to the society by encouraging the younger generations to grow in education and their football career.

    “This is my personal project and it’s basically to encourage the young and talented girls not to kill their dreams because of the challenges we are facing in the country right now,” begins the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations’ Golden Boot winner.
    “A lot of parents outthere don’t want their children to play football but they want them to go to school alone. This is a way of bringing that together. I want to use this to preach to the world that there is always a way to put education and Sports generally, not only football together. This is my area, I’m a professional footballer and this is the way I can communicate with other people not to stop their children from taking part in sporting activities, ” the Arsenal Ladies forward said.
    First Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Seyi Akinwunmi commended the reigning BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year for not forgetting her roots by given back to the grassroot.
    Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Deji Tinubu pledged the commission’s total support towards the success of the competition.
    Also present at the occasion includes representatives from NairaBet and Emzor Pharmaceuticals, President- General of the Nigeria Football and Other Sports Supporters Club, Dr Rafiu Ladipo; Senior Special Assistant on sports to Lagos state governor, Anthony Adeyinka Adeboye and Super Falcons defender, Onome Ebi who was around to give moral support to her national teammate.

  • Iwobi, Iheanacho in race for CAF Awards

    Iwobi, Iheanacho in race for CAF Awards

    Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho of Manchester City are in the running for various CAF Awards.
    In the category of Most Promising Talent, Iheanacho is listed with fellow Nigerian Oghenekaro Etebo, Guinean Naby Keita, Elia Meshack of DR Congo and Ramadan Soby of Egypt.
    Iheanacho scored in four consecutive matches for the Super Eagles against Mali, Luxembourg, Tanzania and Zambia, and had been quite impressive for his English top tier club, for whom he scored in the UEFA Champions League last week.
    Etebo was the hero of Nigeria’s bronze medal feat at the Olympics in Brazil, scoring four goals in the 5-4 thumping of Japan.
    The Youth Player of the Year list was headed by Iwobi, who scored Nigeria’s first goal of the 2018 FIFA World Cup race, away to Zambia in Ndola in October. He contests with Ghanaians Eric Ayiah and Sandra Owusu-Ansah, Ivorian Franck Kessie and Mali U20 ace Sidiki Maiga.
    Super Falcons’ forward Asisat Oshoala was listed alongside South African Janine Van Wyk, Ghanaian Elizabeth Addo and Cameroonians Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene and Raissa Feudjio Tchuanyo for the Women’s Player of the Year.
    Oshoala won the award in 2014, alongside being named Youth Player of the Year.
    Cameroonian Gaelle Deborah Enganamouit was named Women’s Player of the Year 2015. Florence Omagbemi, the only person to have won the Women Africa Cup of Nations as captain and coach, contests for Coach of the Year with DR Congo’s Florent Ibenge, Uganda Coach Milutin Sredojevic, Nacer Sandjak of CAF Confederation Cup winners MO Bejaia and Pitso Mosimane of CAF Champions League winners Mamelodi Sundowns.
    Nigeria’s Super Falcons will battle for Women’s Team of the Year with Cameroon, Ghana, South Africa and Zimbabwe, while Nigeria’s U23 team, bronze winners at the Olympics, will tug with DR Congo (CHAN winners), Senegal, Guinea Bissau and Uganda (the last two for qualifying for 2017 AFCON). Guinea Bissau is making its debut, while Uganda is back among the elites of African football after 38 years.
    Sundowns, Bejaia, TP Mazembe, Zamalek and Zesco United compete for Club of the Year, while Gambian Papa Gassama, Egyptian Ghead Grisha and Senegalese Malang Diedhiou are in the race for Referee of the Year. Incidentally, Gassama handled the Nigeria/Algeria 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Uyo, while Grisha was in charge of the first qualifying match away to Zambia in Ndola.
    The awards ceremony is slated for January 5 in Abuja.

  • AWCON 2016: Oshoala nets four goals as Nigeria pounds Mali 6-0

    AWCON 2016: Oshoala nets four goals as Nigeria pounds Mali 6-0

    Arsenal Ladies’ striker, Asisat Oshoala was in superb form for the Super Falcons after scoring four goals to help Nigeria start its title defence of the Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) with a 6-0 drubbing against Mali at the Stade Municipal de Limbe yesterday. Francisca Ordega and Uchechi Sunday got in among the goals.
    Head coach of the African champions, Florence Omagbemi, named a start list without Desire Oparanozie with Sunday preferred upfront alongside Arsenal Ladies striker, Oshoala. Faith Ikidi, Onome Ebi, Ordega, Halimatu Ayinde and Captain Rita Chikwelu completed Nigeria’s list of overseas-based team.
    Mali head coach, Oumar Guindo, listed three of the four France-based players in his 11 for this game. Dejnaba Baradji, Sebe Coulibaly and Aissatou Diadhiou were the France-based trio that started.
    Seven minutes into the game, Uchechi Sunday’s knockdown played Oshoala through on goal but the Arsenal Ladies forward applied a first heavy touch and allowed the ball to bubble out of play to the relief of Mali stopper Samake Goundo.
    On 15 minutes, Oshoala’s cutback into Mali’s box was met by Washington Spirit forward, Ordega, whose effort was blocked before FC Minsk midfielder Halimat Ayinde dragged her attempt off target.
    However, Goundo could not stop Ordega from passing the ball into the bottom corner from a low cross to give Nigeria a deserved one-nil lead.
    Mali’s only threat in the game came from one of their France-based stars, Baradji though the Nigerian backline anchored by Onome Ebi kept her in check.
    Five minutes before the break, Oshoala doubled Nigeria’s lead. The Malians made a meal of a clearance and Osarenoma Igbinovia picked out Oshoala who skipped past Mali’s custodian to score.
    Less than two minutes into the restart, a poor challenge by Sacko on Igbinovia gifted Nigeria spot kick and South Korea-based striker, Sunday, calmly side-footed the ball past a despairing Malian goalkeeper for the third goal to the championship.
    Nigeria went four goals up on 64 minutes through Oshoala. A through-ball from the back freed up the Arsenal Ladies forward, who beat her Malian marker, Oumou Tangara for pace before rounding Goundo and then calmly picked her spot to score her second of the afternoon.
    Four minutes later, the Arsenal Ladies striker’s pace was again too much to cope for the Malian defence and she effortlessly slotted in Nigeria’s fifth of the game and her hat-trick.

  • knee injury Oshoala may miss Bata tie

    knee injury Oshoala may miss Bata tie

    If feelers from Liverpool Ladies FC are anything to go by, Super Falcons will again miss top star Asisat Oshoala for an all-important Rio 2016 Olympic qualifier against Equatorial Guinea due to injury.

    The reigning African women’s player missed the first leg which ended 1-1 in Abuja due to same injury, and she won’t recover by the time the return leg will be played on August 2.

    Oshoala is nursing a knee injury, which sidelined her from Thursday’s league game for Liverpool against Everton and she will be out “for weeks”, the club manager Matt Murray said.

    England star Fara Williams and Satara Murray are also down with hamstring injuries.

    Oshoala was injured on Saturday as she helped ‘The Reds’ beat Notts County 2-0.

    “It’s the spine of your team – your central midfielder, your centre-back and your centre-forward – but it’s one of those things,” Beard told the BBC.

    “They’re important players to us but it’s going to give maybe one or two of the younger players an opportunity.

    “We’ll do as much as we can, while we’re still involved in everything mathematically, to finish as high as we can.”

  • Oshoala wins BBC player of the year gong

    Oshoala wins BBC player of the year gong

    Super Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala, on Tuesday has won BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award.

    She pushed aside competition from Spain’s Veronica Boquete, Germany’s Nadine Kessler, Scotland’s Kim Little and Brazilian forward Marta for the award, sl10.ng reports.

    The Liverpool attacker shot to prominence in 2014, starring in several tournaments for Nigeria female national teams.

  • All Africa Games: Oshoala promises fans ticket as Easter present

    All Africa Games: Oshoala promises fans ticket as Easter present

    Ahead of Friday’s return leg 2015 All Africa Games qualifier between Nigeria and Mali in Abuja, Super Falcons and Liverpool Ladies attacker, Asisat Oshoala says she and her teammates are raring to go.

    The former Rivers Angels forward on behalf of her teammates wished lovers of the game a happy Easter, while also noting that they will give their all to qualify for the Games.

    “Actually as it stands now it’s not about me but the country. We’ll surely give our best to ensure we qualify.

    “ I’m also wishing our fans happy holidays. All football lovers who are rooting for the team to qualify for the All Africa Games, we promise to secure the ticket as our Easter present to them,” the Liverpool Ladies striker said.

  • Liverpool signs Asisat Oshoala

    Liverpool signs Asisat Oshoala

    Africa’s women player of the year, Asisat Oshoala, has signed a deal with Liverpool in England.

    The club confirmed the signing on its website and Twitter feeds.

    Oshoala, who stood out at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, and the CAF Women’s Championships, signs from River Angels, sl10.ng reports.

    Asisat told Liverpool’s website, “Since I began my football career I have always dreamt of being a professional footballer, so to be able to join the reigning Women’s Super League champions is absolutely fantastic.

    “Liverpool Ladies is a massive club, who have some fantastic players who I believe can help to develop my game to the next level. It was also a big incentive to be able to play in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, which is a huge competition and one I’m confident we can do well in.”

    Liverpool ladies coach Matt Beard, said, “I’m absolutely thrilled to have signed Asisat as she is one of the world’s top young footballers. Asisat proved in the U-20 World Cup what a top-class talent she is and this signing is a big coup for us.

    “The Women’s Super League continues to improve year after year, so it is vital that we strengthen our squad following last season’s successful title defence. This signing is definitely one that the supporters can be extremely excited about.”

    The 20-year old played for Rivers Angels in Nigeria last season and had a remarkable 2014, where she led the Nigerian U-20 women’s team to a second place finish at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, emerging as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

    She also helped the Nigerian senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons to win the 2014 Africa Women championship, also emerging as the Most Valuable Player in the competition.

    Oshoala was crowned the best player in Africa on January 8, during the 2014 CAF African player of the year award ceremony.

     

  • 2014 has been wonderful for me – Oshoala

    2014 has been wonderful for me – Oshoala

    The Most Valuable Player of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, Africa Women’s Championship and the 2014 Federation Cup, Asisat Oshoala has said the year has been a remarkable one for her.

    Oshoala, who was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the just concluded 2014 Federation Cup (Women), told SL10 after her team beat Sunshine Queens of Akure 2-0 in the finals at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, that the season has been awesome for her.

    “2014 for me has been a blessing in all competition. The league to the Federation Cup, FIFA World Cup and the Africa Women Championship had all been interesting,” she told sl10.ng.

    “When you work hard you’ll expect a good result. It’s not by my power nor how well I trained so hard but more about the grace of God.

    “I really appreciate God for everything that happened to me this year and I surely believe He hasn’t stop.”

    Oshoala chose to keep her future plans to herself, when she was asked about her next destination considering that there are reports of interest from Europe.

    “That’s a personal issue and I’ll prefer not to talk about it at this moment,” Oshoala insisted.

  • Rivers Angels Asisat Oshoala prepared for AWC

    Rivers Angels Asisat Oshoala prepared for AWC

    RIVERSAngels new poster girl Asisat Oshoala is one of the 30 players that have been summoned to the national team camp ahead of the African Women Championship(AWC) which begins in Namibia next month.

    Few weeks ago, the offensive all-rounder was in the spotlight after her seven goals contributed to the Falconets qualification for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals.

    And the Golden Ball and Golden Shoe winner of the competition held in Canada has borrowed the motto from the Girls Guide, saying she is prepared for the start of camping despite recently appearing for the Nigeria Under 20s.

    “I went to the African Women Championship two years ago, and I played a game against Ivory Coast. I have been part of the senior national team in the past, I played the qualifiers against Rwanda.

    “Yes, I am prepared to join the camp. It is my work and I am prepared for the competition,”Asisat Oshoala told allnigeriasoccer.com.

    The 19 – year – old is studying offers from clubs overseas, and she has dropped a big hint that she will switch clubs after the AWC ends.

    “There are teams abroad that want me but I want to remain with Rivers Angels until the end of the season. After the AWC, I will sit down with my agent and consider the options available, ” she concluded.

    From the 30 players that were told to report at Serob Hotel Abuja on Sunday, 14 are from Rivers Angels including Gloria Ofoegbu and Uchechi Sunday.

    List Of invited players

    GOALKEEPERS: Ibubeleye Whyte (Rivers Angels),Precious Dede (Ibom Queens),Charity John (Rivers Angels), Juliet Obi (State House FC),Ohieriaku Christy (Oshogbo Queens)

    DEFENDERS:  Blessing Edoho (Pelican Stars),Ebere Ngozi (Rivers Angels),Mariam Ibrahim (Nasarawa Amazons), Josephine Chukwunonye (Rivers Angels), Onome Ebi (FK Minsk,Belarus), Osinachi Ohale (Houston Dash,USA), Ugochi Njoku (Rivers Angels),Gloria Ofoegbu (Rivers Angels),Sarah Nnodim (Delta Queens)

    MIDFIELDERS: Ngozi Okobi (Delta Queens), Onyinyechi Ohadugha (Rivers Angels), Chiwendu Ihezuo (Pelican Stars), Stella Mbachu (Rivers Angels), Asisat Oshoala (Rivers Angels),Cecilia Nku (Rivers Angels), Evelyn Nwabuoku (Rivers Angels), Halimat Ayinde (Delta Queens), Loveth Ayila (Rivers Angels), Gloria Iroka (Rivers Angels), Rosemary Okezie (Nasarawa Amazon).

    ATTACKERS: Desire Oparanozie (En Avent De Guingamp,France) , Francisca Ordega (Pitea IFF,Sweden),  Esther Sunday (FK Minsk,Belarus), Uchechi Sunday (Rivers Angels), Pepetua Nkwocha (Sunana SK,Sweden)

  • Oshoala’s hat-trick sinks All-Stars

    Oshoala’s hat-trick sinks All-Stars

    Super Falcons on Saturday intensified their preparation for the African Women’s Championship (AWC) with an emphatic 5-2 mauling of Abuja All Stars.

    The Namibia-bound Falcons took the lead as early as the fourth minute, when Asisat Oshoala latched on to a through pass from strike partner Desire Oparanozie to chip over the head of the All Stars goalkeeper.

    Oshoala made it two in the 20th minute, when she scored from a goalmouth scramble and got her hat-trick in the 23rd by beating an off side trap to make it 3-0.

    The All Stars were  quick off the mark in the second half and deservedly reduced the tally with a goal in the 47th minute. The veterans piled up pressure but the Falcons defended well to ward them off.

    Francesca Ordega and Ngozi Okobi increased the lead to 5-1 in the 73rd and 80th minutes respectively, before the All Stars scored from the spot to bring the final scores to 5-2.