As the current titleholder of the CAF Women’s Player of the Year, Asisat Oshoala is calling on both public and private sector stakeholders to amplify their investment in Nigerian women’s football, aiming to expedite its growth.
Oshoala, who commenced her professional football journey with FC Robo Queens in Lagos, made this plea during the seventh edition of the annually organized Football4Girls competition, in which the FC Barcelona women’s player actively participates.
Having initiated the competition in 2015, Oshoala, who gained prominence in 2014, has played a pivotal role in nurturing talent, with two of her proteges, Gift Monday and Rasheedat Ajibade, joining the Falcons.
Addressing the 2023 edition of the event, the five-time African Player of the Year emphasized the positive trajectory of women’s football, urging teammates, friends, and potential investors to consider supporting the women’s side. She believes such support will not only motivate aspiring young players but also create opportunities for their development.
Aisha Falode, a board member of the Nigeria Football Federation, who attended the event on Tuesday, December 26, expressed optimism about the future of women’s football. She praised the quality of football exhibited during the tournament and commended Asisat Oshoala for her dedicated efforts in fostering the next generation of women footballers.
Falode remarked, “You can see the quality of football, and one of the players in the academy is already in the U-17 team. I see so many qualities, not only in the Oshoala academy but in the other teams that played here as well. That is to tell you that the future of women’s football in Nigeria is endless. It is great.”