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Tag: Oshoala

  • BBC Award: Nigerian Sports Award hails Oshoala

    • Salutes Quadri

    Unmissables Incentives Limited – organisers of the Nigerian Sports Award has hailed Super Falcons’ & Liverpool FC of England player, Asisat Oshoala for her milestone achievement  by winning the maiden edition of the BBC African Women Footballer of the year.

    Nigeria’s Asisat  Oshoala was recently named the winner of the maiden edition of the Women category of the award and was presented with the to her at the Super Falcons’ camp in Canada ahead of the FIFA Women World Cup

    Congratulating Oshoala and indeed Nigeria, the General Manager, Unmissable Incentives Limited, Mr. Kayode Idowu, noted that Asisat’s feat in winning the award is another significant milestone not only for the budding star but also the nation at large.

    Idowu further stated that Asisat’s movement to the Liverpool FC Women team in the English Premier League after winning the Women Footballer of the Year Award at the 2014 edition of the Nigerian Sports Award and the BBC Award has further lent credence to the credibility of the Nigerian Sports Award.

    On behalf of the members of the Award Panel of the Nigerian Sports Award, I wish to congratulate, Asisat Oshoala for winning the first edition of the BBC Award and we hope that this will further boost her morale to aspire for more success.

    He then used the opportunity to charge Asisat and her Super Falcons teammates to work hard and excel at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada by surpassing the achievements of the previous Super Falcons’ team and even dream to bring home the cup.

    Meanwhile, Mr. Kayode Idowu also seized the opportunity to congratulate fast-rising Nigerian Table Tennis Player, Aruna Quadri on his recent move  to the French club in the lucrative France Table Tennis Federation (FTTF) organised league from his Portugal based club.

  • Ordega outshines Oshoala in Falcons’ 9-0 win

    Ordega outshines Oshoala in Falcons’ 9-0 win

    Francisca Ordega smashed a second-half hat-trick to eclipse BBC World Footballer of the Year Asissat Oshoala in a test match World Cup-bound Super Falcons won 9-0.

    Canadian club Woodbridge Ladies went behind as early as the fourth minute through Ngozi Okobi, before Oshoala doubled the lead in the 38th minute.

    Ordega then plundered an eye-catching  treble after the interval with Courtney Dike grabbing a brace.

    Perpetua Nkwocha was also on target for the African champions.

    Coach Edwin Okon said he was more impressed with his team’s performance than the huge score line.

    “It was a very good game today. Though we won by a massive margin, I was very impressed with the team’s coordination in all departments,” he said.

    “This does not mean we won’t still correct a few lapses here and there but I can see the team preparing well for the tournament proper.

    “I’m glad we scored many goals because we need a strong firepower upfront to achieve our dream which is to lift the trophy of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. We will continue to work hard until we achieve this,”

    Nigeria are drawn with USA, Sweden and Australia in the first round of the 2015 Women’s World Cup, which begins on June 6 in Canada.

  • Oshoala nominated

    Oshoala nominated

    Super Falcons and Liverpool Ladies star Asisat Oshoala has been nominated for a prestigious BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award.

    BBC World Service announced the shortlist for the inaugural BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year accolade on Sunday.

    The poll is now open and Nigerians can help her increase her rating by voting for her online through www.bbc.com/sport/o/football/womens/.

    The five shortlisted contenders are Veronica Boquete (Spain and FFC Frankfurt), Nadine Kessler (Germany and VFL Wolfsburg), Kim Little (Scotland and Seattle Reign FC), Marta (Brazil and FC Rosengard) and Oshoala (Nigeria and Liverpool).

    Fans can vote online by using their mobile phones or handheld devices. Voting is also available by SMS.

    The poll will close on  May 11 at 10am BST and the winner of the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2015 will be revealed on BBC World Service on  May 26.

    The shortlist was selected by a panel of experts including administrators, journalists, coaches and former players.

    Reflecting on her nomination, Oshoala said: “I worked hard last year but I am surprised to be nominated and I feel very appreciated.

    “This award is a very good thing for women’s football. It can really help us by encouraging other countries to support their ladies more and treat them the  same way they treat the men.

    “A lot of people tried to discourage me but I never let that bother me – I did what I want to do.”

  • Oshoala makes history in England

    Oshoala makes history in England

    Liverpool striker Asisat Oshoala etched her name into African football folklore by becoming the first player from the continent to feature in the FA Women’s Super League.

    The Nigeria international entered the history books on Wednesday night when she stepped out on to the Select Security Stadium pitch as back-to-back champions Liverpool tackled Sunderland.

    One of England’s UEFA Women’s Champions League representatives, The Reds, slipped to a shock 2 – 1 loss at the hands of The Lady Black Cats.

    In the first half, with the scoreboard reading 1 – 0 in favour of Sunderland, Oshoala had a golden opportunity to make it 1 – 1, but her shot missed the target.

    On a personal note, the Falcons star has admitted that she was sad to lose on her Women’s Super League bow, and her inability to open her Liverpool goal scoring account, albeit in an official match.

    ”I am disappointed that we lost and I failed to score,” Asisat Oshoala said briefly to SL10.ng.

    With 17 minutes remaining, Asisat Oshoala made way for England youth international Lucy Staniforth.

    The current African Women’s Footballer of the Year is contractually bound to Liverpool until the end of next season.

  • NFF congratulates Udoh, Oshoala

    NFF congratulates Udoh, Oshoala

    The Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) has congratulated the duo of FIFA-badged referee Ferdinand Udoh and African Woman Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala for the deserved strides they made in the past few days.

    Udoh, 28, and much respected for his athletism, firmness and strict application of the rules of the game, has been selected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as one of the referees for the 11th African U-17 Championship taking place in Niger Republic between February 15  and March 1 .

    Oshoala, Most Valuable Player of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals in Canada, and also undisputable choice for same honour at the African Women Championship in Namibia last year, signed a professional contract with Liverpool Ladies Football Club of England.

    NFF Acting President, Seyi Akinwunmi, lauded the duo and charged them to see their strides as calls to put in even more effort and diligence into their different vocations.

    “The NFF is happy with the selection of Ferdinand Udoh for the African U-17 Championship in Niger. This underscores that the integrated efforts we are making for the general improvement of refereeing in Nigeria has not gone unnoticed by the organisations that matter.

    “For some years now, we have not had a Nigerian centre referee at major competitions. Now, Udoh is starting with the U-17, which we know is a stepping stone to further glory and much greater glory. Let me reiterate that our objective is to see a Nigerian referee, or referees, officiate at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.

    “We congratulate Oshoala who is definitely the new poster girl of Nigeria’s women football. Her contract with Liverpool Ladies will certainly encourage her mates in the National Team to also put in more efforts to attract the attention of the best clubs in the world.”

    Oshoala was duly crowned the African Woman Player of the Year and Youth Player of the Year at the Glo-CAF African Football Awards in Lagos earlier this month, with Nigeria also claiming the Women National Player of the Year diadem.

    Ferdinand Anietie Udoh, born in 1987, became a FIFA-badged referee in 2013.

    Nigeria’s leading assistant referee, Peter Edibi, is presently working at the 30th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Equatorial Guinea.

  • Liverpool snap up Oshoala

    Liverpool snap up Oshoala

    African Woman Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala has joined Liverpool Ladies.

    The FA Women’s Super League champions fended off the challenge of rivals Chelsea to secure the service of the 20-year-old Nigeria international.

    “Liverpool Ladies are delighted to annnounce the signing of recently crowned African Women’s Player of the Year, Asisat Oshoala,” Liverpool stated on their official website.

    Oshoala has described joining the Liverpool Ladies as “absolutely fantastic.”

    The striker, who joins from Rivers Angels, recognises that she has pitched tent with “a massive club” that can help her take her game to the next level.

    “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 are 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,” Oshoala told liverpoolfc.com.

    Oshoala is currently regarded as Nigeria’s biggest football talent in the women’s game after claiming the most valuable player and top scorer’s awards at last year’s FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup.

  • Ogunjobi urges Oshoala to return to school

    Ogunjobi urges Oshoala to return to school

    Former Secretary-General of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and erstwhile chairman of the body’s technical committee, Taiwo Ogunjobi, has urged newly crowned African Women Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala, to return to high school for her to be academically equipped for the future.

    The chairman, Prime Football Club, said he was shocked to find out that the Rivers Angels goal-poacher is a Secondary School (SS2) drop-out. “I was shocked the day I heard Asisat Oshoala is a Secondary School drop-out despite her level of intelligence,” the Pillar of Sports in the State of Osun said.

    Ogunjobi, while giving Oshoala fatherly advice, said now that her ovation is loud, she should return to school and further her education.

    He said: “Education is important, football is temporary and if you don’t leave football, football will leave you one day. I played football to the highest level (Green Eagles) but education was what I fell back on after my active football career.

    “We live in a society where the ability of an individual to be successful depends largely on their education. I am using this medium to appeal to Asisat Oshoala to return to school so as to get her future properly secured.”

    Oshoala, whose dream was to become a lawyer, incurred the wrath of her parents when she dropped out of school to pursue a football career.

    Ogunjobi, a former Sole Administrator of Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan, congratulated Oshoala for emerging as the African Women Player and Young Player of the Year 2014.

  • Chelsea, Liverpool chase Oshoala

    Chelsea, Liverpool chase Oshoala

    English Super League champions, Liverpool Ladies face a fight with Chelsea Ladies over Rivers Angels star Asisat Oshoala, according to SL10 sources in England.

    The 20-year-old is regarded as one of the hottest properties in women football football and Matt Beard has been tipped to take her to Anfield after the recent signings of Satara Murray, Ingrid Ryland and Line Krogedal Smorsgard.

    But now ESL rivals, Chelsea Ladies are circling and are eager to land the forward to boost their ranks.

    Oshoala featured in all the matches of the Falconets side at the 2014 U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup, helping them to the final, winning the Most Valuable Player Award and also emerging as the recipient of the Golden Shoe.

    She emerged as the Most Valuable Player of the 9th African Women’s Championship in Namibia.

    However, she narrowly lost the Highest Goals Scorer award to Desire Oparanozie with just one goal less than the five scored by her compatriot.

    The FC Robo product was voted the Glo/CAF Women’s and Young Player of the year.

  • 2015 Women’s Federation Cup: Oshoala’s, Mbachu’s goals give Rivers Angels trophy

    2015 Women’s Federation Cup: Oshoala’s, Mbachu’s goals give Rivers Angels trophy

    RiversAngels produced two moments of stunning quality as Asisat Oshoala and Stella Mbachu sealed part one of a domestic double by lifting the Women’s Federation Cup against Sunshine Queens at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Sunday.

    Asisat  and  Stella scored spectacular second-half goals in an interesting final in Lagos. Oshoala struck a brilliant opener after 66 minutes and evergreen Mbachu unleashed an even better strike 20 minutes later to clinch Rivers Angels’ victory.

    The win ensured that Edwin Okon’s ladies have won five consecutive Fed Cup medals. It also puts the Port Harcourt Angels on the brink of total domestic domination as they stand just one match away from the Premier League title.

    Sunshine Queens, in contrast, were left devastated and reflecting on a game they gave a lot in terms of taking the match to their highly fancied opponents.

    The Sunshine Queens technical bench predictably restored goalkeeper Funke Okewole in place of Elizabeth Johnson, while overlapping Adeola Aminu also got the nod to start.

    It was a moment of excitement in a first half of explosive football action with some of the big names such as Adeola Aminu, Evelyn Nwabuoku, Asisat Oshoala, Stella Mbachu, Funke Okewole, Funsho Ogunrinola and Ebere Ngozi in action.

    Rivers Angels created numerous chances but were foiled by the reliable Okewole who stood tall to their attacking forays.

    Aminat Yakubu should have put Rivers Angels ahead in the 43rd minute, while Yetunde Aluko missed a good chance to put Sunshine Queens ahead in the 45th minute. Okewole demonstrated why she is so highly rated with several close range saves in the match.

    It was Oshoala, who took the lead 21 minutes into the second half. Yakubu made a surging run down the right and paved way for Mercy Amanze, who failed to beat Okewole, but there was still much time for the lurking Oshoala to pounce home.

    And Rivers Angels effectively got their hands on the trophy when the ageless Mbachu scored a goal that topped even Oshoala for quality.

    She raced forward and sent the Rivers Angels fans into ecstasy by curling a stunning right foot drive into Okewole’s post from a goal mouth scramble.

  • Oshoala battles Oparanozie for Woman Footballer of the Year

    Oshoala battles Oparanozie for Woman Footballer of the Year

    As the countdown begins for the third edition of the Nigerian Sports Award scheduled to hold on November 13, 2014 in Lagos, two members of the Nigerian Women Football team -Super Falcons, Asisat Oshoala and Desire Oparanozie are set to battle for the Footballer of the Year (women) award.

    The duo who were members of the African conquering Super Falcons that won the just concluded African Women Championship (AWC) in Namibia are nominated for the category alongside Courtney Dike who was part of the Falconets team to the last FIFA U-20 Women World Cup in Canada.

    Both Asisat and Oparanozie proved their mettle at the African Women Championship to lay claim to the prestigious award. While Asisat Oshoala emerged the tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP), Oparanozie claimed the Golden Boot Award as the highest goal scorer in the tournament.

    Oshoala also won the Most Valuable Player (Golden Ball) and the highest goal scorer (Golden Boot) awards at the FIFA U-20 Women World Cup in Canada early in the year.

    Beyond the Footballer of the Year (Women) award category, Asisat Oshoala is also nominated in the Sportswoman of the Year award category in which she will compete with Nigerian tracks and field queen, Blessing Okagbare.

    Speaking  on the forthcoming event, the General Manager, Unmissable Incentives Limited, organizers  of the award, Kayode Idowu revealed that the stake are high for the third edition of the award as the award promises to be better than the two previous editions.