Super Falcons Failed to secure yet another Olympic ticket
Women Football in Africa cannot be fully discussed without a look at the “African Giant”, the title that comes with so much hard work and achievements.
The Nigerian women national team, the Super Falcons have won a record of eleven of thirteen Africa Women Cup Of Nation (AWCON) and also the current holder of both WAFU’B and AWCON Championship.
However, the Super Falcons some few days ago failed to secure a ticket for yet another Football event at the Olympics after failing to partake in 2012 and 2016 editions.
The team needed to outscore their Ivorian counterparts after a goalless draw in the first leg in Abidjan, but failed to score more than one goal in front of the teeming Agege fans who came all out to give them the maximum support needed.
The game started horribly for the Asisat Oshoala captained side as the visitors scored first through a fantastic set piece before the Barcelona star put one back before halftime.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE EXIT?
In September, there was an alleged contractual issues between the NFF and the Swedish tactician, Thomas Dennerby which led to the resignation of the former Swedish women national team manager.
This uproar in the administration led to the appointment of Christopher Danjuma as an interim coach. Danjuma coincidentally was interim gaffer in 2015 when the team failed to qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil.
Also, there’s was a change in captaincy after Desire Oparanozie was replaced by FC Barcelona forward Asisat Oshoala.
Oshoala become the fourth player to captain the team in a competitive year after Onome Ebi, Evelyn Nwabuoku and Desire Oparanozie. Oparanozie led the team to world cup where her side made a historic round of 16 appearance for the first time in 20 years.
It appears that Desire was stripped off her captaincy due to the protest staged in the teams hotel over unpaid bonuses, which was her right to as captain, thus she wasnt invited for the Olympic qualification games against the Ivorians.
Oshoala who expressed her disappointment recently said: “It’s very disappointing and a real heart break for us.” – Asisat told the BBC
Oshoala has never played in an Olympic that she anticipated so much for and continued with her disappointment.
“I actually thought this would be it. Sadly it wasn’t meant to be. Four years is a very long time for us.” – she said.
It’s truly heart breaking for the fans as well as the team captain apologises to the fan and hope 2024 will be a reality.
In September, there was an alleged contractual issues between the NFF and the Swedish tactician, Thomas Dennerby which led to the resignation of the former Swedish women national team manager.
This uproar in the administration led to the appointment of Christopher Danjuma as an interim coach. Danjuma coincidentally was interim gaffer in 2015 when the team failed to qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil.
Also, there’s was a change in captaincy after Desire Oparanozie was replaced by FC Barcelona forward Asisat Oshoala.
Oshoala become the fourth player to captain the team in a competitive year after Onome Ebi, Evelyn Nwabuoku and Desire Oparanozie. Oparanozie led the team to world cup where her side made a historic round of 16 appearance for the first time in 20 years.
It appears that Desire was stripped off the captaincy due to the protest staged in the teams hotel over an allegedly unpaid bonuses, which was her right to as captain, thus she wasn’t invited for the Olympic qualification games against the Ivorians.
Oshoala who expressed her disappointment recently said: “It’s very disappointing and a real heart break for us.” – Asisat told the BBC
Oshoala has never played in an Olympic that she anticipated so much for and continued with her disappointment.
“I actually thought this would be it. Sadly it wasn’t meant to be. Four years is a very long time for us.” – she said.
It’s truly heart breaking for the fans as well as the team captain apologises to the fan and hope 2024 will be a reality.
” Hopefully we can pick ourselves up. We can only apologise to our fans and try to build on from here. ”
We cannot dispute that the team is full of young talented players with international experiences which is why the sport minister Sunday Dare took to twitter and say investigation need to be made unto why the Falcons missed out on the Olympic.
Can 2024 come sooner? Hopefully, #France2024 would be a reality.
MOLATsportgist 