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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Sports

Oshoala Rallies Fans Ahead of Crucial World Cup Play-off Against South Africa

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Super Falcons captain Asisat Oshoala urged Nigerians to support the team in their crucial 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup play-off against South Africa.
  • Nigeria faces a tougher route to the World Cup after a quarter-final defeat to Cameroon in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
  • Oshoala acknowledged the team's struggles and the narrowing gap in African women's football, stressing the need for increased effort.

Super Falcons captain Asisat Oshoala has called on Nigerians to rally behind the national women's football team as they prepare for a critical FIFA Women’s World Cup play-off against South Africa on Thursday. The team's World Cup aspirations are on the line after losing their automatic qualification spot.

The only thing I can say right now is we need their support. The World Cup ticket is at stake, so this is the time when we really need everyone to support the team.

— Asisat OshoalaUrging Nigerians to back the Super Falcons in their crucial World Cup play-off match.

Nigeria's path to the World Cup became more challenging following a 1-0 quarter-final loss to Cameroon in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. As one of four WAFCON quarter-final losers, the Super Falcons must now navigate knockout play-off matches to secure a place in FIFA’s Intercontinental Play-Off Tournament, where three World Cup tickets are available.

Oshoala acknowledged the team's disappointing performance this year but stressed their determination to succeed against South Africa. "The only thing I can say right now is we need their support. The World Cup ticket is at stake, so this is the time when we really need everyone to support the team," she stated. She also expressed regret over the recent loss, promising increased effort in the upcoming match.

We already know the Super Eagles didn’t qualify, so we know what is at stake and we know how Nigerians feel about this. We are sorry we lost this one, but the next game we will put in more effort and try to win the game.

— Asisat OshoalaAcknowledging the team's recent performance and promising improvement.

The Super Falcons, who have never missed a Women’s World Cup since its inception in 1991, face a threat to their record of appearing in all nine editions. Oshoala noted that the team's struggles in the WAFCON serve as a warning. "Smaller nations are closing the gap for sure, but it’s also a wake-up call for us to put in effort knowing that there are other people who actually want to win this trophy. So we have to work harder now," she said.

Smaller nations are closing the gap for sure, but it’s also a wake-up call for us to put in effort knowing that there are other people who actually want to win this trophy. So we have to work harder now.

— Asisat OshoalaReflecting on the competitive landscape in African women's football.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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