Falcons know what is at stake, says Oshoala

Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala has called for continued support from Nigerians as the team seeks to recover from a shocking opening defeat to Malawi at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Malawi, tournament debutants, secured a stunning 3-2 victory over the 10-time champions in their Group C opener in Rabat, with the Chawinga sisters playing a key role in the upset.

Oshoala, who came on as a late substitute, admitted that the traditional dominance of African women's football is changing. She stated that the loss serves as a wake-up call, highlighting that other nations are improving and also aiming for the trophy. "Smaller nations are closing the gap for sure, but it’s also a wake-up call for us to put in more effort," Oshoala said, emphasizing the high stakes, including a World Cup ticket.

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It’s still a long competition, so there is still a lot of time to prepare for the next game. We need their support right now. A World Cup ticket is at stake and this is the time we need everyone to support the team. We know the Super Eagles didn’t qualify, so we know what’s at stake and we know how Nigerians feel about this.

The veteran striker stressed the importance of the team's remaining group matches against Zambia and Egypt. Nigeria currently sits third in Group C without points and needs to win both games to guarantee qualification for the quarterfinals. Success in the quarterfinals would also secure their place in the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil. The team is determined to respond positively and defend their continental title.

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Smaller nations are closing the gap for sure, but it’s also a wake-up call for us to put in more effort, knowing that there are other teams who want to win this trophy as well.