The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oshoala

  • Oshoala brace sets up Nigeria/Cameroon final

    Oshoala brace sets up Nigeria/Cameroon final

    A first half brace from Asisat Oshoala gave Nigeria a final ticket for the African Women championship.

    The Falcons beat South Africa 2-1 in their semis clash yesterday  in Windhoek.

    Oshoala opened the scores on 38 minutes and completed her brace just before half time as the Super Falcons endured to a slim win after Jane Refiloe reduced the deficit for the South Africans in the second half.

    The Nigerians survived several attacks from the Banyana Banyana in closing stages to confirm their place at next year’s women’s version of the Mundial.

    Captain Christine Manie led by example scoring the winner in 118th minute to aid Cameroon to a 2-1 win over a resilient Cote d’Ivoire side at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek in the second semi final

    The Cameroonians will also face old foes Nigeria, in the final on Saturday at the Sam Nujoma Stadium whilst South Africa battles Cote d’Ivoire in the final slot for next year’s World Cup in Canada.

  • Oshoala dedicates award to fans, family and teammates

    Oshoala dedicates award to fans, family and teammates

    For the first time since the 9th African Women Championship started in Windhoek, Asisat Oshoala emerged as the Most Valuable Player of yesterday’s semi final tie between the Super Falcons of Nigeria and the Bayana Bayana of South Africa.

    Before yesterday, skillful Delta Queens forward, Ngozi Okobi was the first Nigerian player to win the award while Rivers Angels left back, Ngozi Ebere won the prize in Falcons’ game against Zambia.

    It appears the lanky Oshoala chose the most auspicious moments to shine as her two goals in yesterday’s semi final game orchestrated the elimination of arch rivals, the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

    Apart from the goals she scored, Oshoala was a constant threat to the defence line of the South Africans with her pace and skill.The South Africans have their captain and defence strong woman, Janine Van Wyk to thank for checkmating Oshoala after she has done the damage.

    Speaking to SportingLife after the game, the Canada 2014 U-20 Women’s World Cup star dedicated her award to her fans, family members and teammates for their unflinching support since she burst into global limelight last August.

    “I want to dedicate this award specially to my fans, family and my teammates who have shown tremendous support to me all these while even when I’m not playing well.

    “Their prayers and words of encouragement have kept me going in this tournament and I want to say a big thank you to them. I’ll continue to do my best in every match I have the opportunity to play”she added.

  • Super Falcons qualify for World Cup

    Super Falcons qualify for World Cup

    • As Oshoala’s brace inspires Nigeria to 2-1 win over Bayana Bayana 

    The Super Falcons of Nigeria are the first country from Africa to qualify for next year’s FIFA senior Women’s World Cup after they beat Bayana Bayana of South Africa 2-1 in the semi-final of the African Women Championship in Windhoek yesterday.

    The Nigerian women dominated the opening minutes of the first half and should have taken the lead  more than twice with Asisat Oshoala missing incredible chances, but the Canada 2014 U-20 Women World’s Cup MVP and Highest goal scorer made up for her earlier misses when she grabbed the first goal for the Falcons in the 36th minute.

    The Rivers Angels star got a through ball from the left wing, out ran two of her markers before placing the ball to the far corner to calm anxious minds on the Nigerian bench.

    Her second goal came in the 45th minute of the encounter, Oshoala having being left unmarked in the far right, got a pass, controlled the ball and volleyed over goalkeeper Philadelphia Mndaweni in goal for the Bayana Bayana.

    Knowing that they needed at least a goal to come into the game, the South Africans stepped up the game in the second half with their quick inter change of passes spearheaded by the inspirational Portia Modise but it was not until mid way in the second half did their goal come in the most controversial manner.

    The Nigerian defenders rallied to clear on the line from a pull out that was sailing into the net while the centre referee Damaris Kimani from Kenya blow for an infringement against the South African, the assistant referee ruled that the ball crossed the line.

    With the goal line technology not available for the African Women Championship, there was no clear cut conviction whether the ball crossed the line or not.

    Coach Godwin Okon introduced veteran Perpetua Nkwocha for skillful Ngozi Okobi and Esther Sunday for Francisca Ordega who struggled in the game but it was the resurgent South Africans who piled more pressure in the closing stages until the referee ended the game as the Super Falcons avenged their loss to the Bayana Bayana at the same stage two years ago.

  • Oshoala delighted with national honour

    Oshoala delighted with national honour

    FIFA U-20 Women’s World  Cup MVP Asisat Oshoala has  said she is delighted to be presented with a national award by President Goodluck Jonathan on September 29 in Abuja. Asisat was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the Golden Boot winner at the recent FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada.

    “Well, I am really happy about it and I feel appreciated because it’s a good thing for one to be appreciated by her own nation,” Asisat said.

    The Rivers Angels player is currently in the Super Falcons camp in preparation for the Africa Women Championship (AWC).  Also included in the list is captain of the U-20 silver-winning side,Patience Okaeme. Other recipients of the national award are members of the conquering Golden Eaglets class of 2013,as well as coaches and backroom staff of the team.

  • National honours for Dedevbo, Oshoala

    National honours for Dedevbo, Oshoala

    • Falconets’ captain, Eaglets’ coaches too
    • The Nation man Morakinyo Abodunrin on the list

    Nigeria’s Under-20 Women’s National Team Coach, Peter Dedevbo, who led the Falconets to second place at last month’s 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada, has been listed for national honour by the federal government.

    The list obtained by NationSport on Thursday was signed by Dr. Tunde Adeyemo, a director at the Special Duties Office on behalf of the Secretary to the Federal Government, Anyim Pius Anyim and has been approved by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The awardees cut across every sector of the national economy with the sporting fraternity accounting for 39 recipients who include FIFA golden girl, Asisat Oshoala, Falconets’ captain, Patience Okaeme and Commonwealth gold medalists, Blessing Okagbare and Ese Brume. They will be joined by other Commonwealth gold medalists that brought honour to the country at the Glasgow Games in July.

    Dedevbo is to be conferred with the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) at a ceremony billed for September 29 at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.

    The Falconets coach owes his breakthrough in the round leather game to Moncton, a city in Canada where the girls qualified for the final of the tournament which they lost to Germany.

    Assistant coaches of the U-17 national team, Emmanuel Amuneke, Emeka Amadi and Nduka Ugbade who won the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Dubai, will join Dedevbo on the podium. Both players and backroom staff of the U-17 national team which includes the team’s media officer, Morakinyo Abodunrin, who is also an Assistant Editor in The Nation Newspaper, are also recipients.

    Surprisingly, the name of embattled President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Aminu Maigari, who has been credited with the successes of the national teams in recent years, was conspicuously missing.

  • Glo hails Oshoala, Falconets players

    Glo hails Oshoala, Falconets players

    Nigeria’s national telecommunications carrier, Globacom has congratulated the Falconets for the team’s outstanding performance at the just concluded U-20 female World Cup in Montreal, Canada.

    Globacom said that even though they lost the cup, the girls gave a good account of themselves.

    The team qualified for the finals by defeating New Zealand and North Korea in the Quarter and Semi-finals respectively.

    According to a statement issued from Globacom’s headquarters, “the Falconets, in spite of the loss to Germany in the finals of the competition, put up a spirited fight against the highly-rated German team.  But for certain technical issues, the Falconets would have picked the trophy. They displayed the Nigerian can-do spirit and high-level patriotism.”

    Globacom applauded the handlers of the team for their dedication to duty, determination to excel and for making the nation proud at the mundial.

    “We are proud of the Falconets and the coaching crew for distinguishing themselves as the best team in Africa and the second best team in the world. We will continue to support our national teams in every way possible,” the statement added.

    Globacom also extolled top scorer, Azeezat Oshoala’s sterling performance which earned her the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards.  The company charged her to go ahead and achieve more glory in the field of play in the future. “Your career has just started and you have what it takes to be among the world’s very best in football,” Globacom stated.

    The telecommunications giant expressed optimism that this present crop of female footballers will achieve much more in years to come.  The statement said that the team looks good to achieve better results in future tournaments.

    The Falconets lost by a lone goal in the extra time of the final match to Germany, but they enjoyed  more ball possession than the Germans.

  • Nobody believed in us — Oshoala

    Nobody believed in us — Oshoala

    Player of the moment, Asisat Oshoala has revealed that prior to the commencement of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, nobody believed the Falconets will get this far.

    She told SportingLife that it was based on this that the players resolved to give their best and as such put the challenges behind them.

    “We are happy that we have been able to get Nigerians behind us at this stage due to our outing.It shows how sweet success is,” said the player who two years ago wept when the team lost the third place match to Japan.

    It will be remembered that the pre-training tour of the team to Canada was disrupted by the suspension on Nigeria as they could not travel at the scheduled time.

    Also,the team are always at the receiving end anytime Super Eagles are involved in the World Cup as they are usually given little or no attention by the FA.

    In 2010 shortly after the World Cup in South Africa, the girls travelled to Germany unannounced but reached the finals before losing to the host side.

    It is the same scenario this year which has further been worsened by the elections into the NFF executive committee.