Oshoala Honors Super Falcons Veterans, Cites Ronaldo and Saha as Childhood Heroes
In an interview conducted following Nigeria's victorious campaign at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, Asisat Oshoala, the six-time CAF Women's Player of the Year, revealed that her early football inspirations were not from the Super Falcons or Nigerian women's football. Instead, she looked up to male football players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Louis Saha.
Growing up, Oshoala mostly followed male football teams and supported sports people like Ronaldo and Saha. This was due to the limited visibility of women's football at the time, with fewer televised games, absence in newspapers, news, and other media.
However, Oshoala's success in the Super Falcons is attributed to the contributions of past greats like Perpetua Nkwocha, Precious Dede, and Rita Chikwelu. Oshoala did not hold back in her praise for these players during her interview on Arise News.
Oshoala praised Rita Chikwelu, a midfield stalwart, as another influential figure. She credited Chikwelu, along with others, for paving the way for her to succeed in the Super Falcons. Oshoala also praised Precious Dede, former national team goalkeeper, as an influential figure.
Perpetua Nkwocha is one of the players with the most goals in clubs, according to Oshoala. She acknowledged Nkwocha's significant contributions to football, expressing her admiration for the past Super Falcons great.
Oshoala's journey in football began with male football idols, not female stars. She was fortunate to play with some of these influential figures before they retired. Oshoala played for European giants like Arsenal, Liverpool, and Barcelona before her current stint with Bay FC in the U.S.
Despite her early inspirations, Oshoala's success in the Super Falcons is a testament to the impact of past greats and the potential for future success in Nigerian women's football.
Oshoala's inspiration for football came primarily from male sports personalities like Cristiano Ronaldo and Louis Saha, a result of minimal visibility of women's football during her childhood. She recognizes the contributions of past Super Falcons greats, such as Perpetua Nkwocha, Precious Dede, and Rita Chikwelu, in her success with the national team. Oshoala played for various European football clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool, and Barcelona, before joining Bay FC in the U.S. Despite her initial idolization of male players, Oshoala's success in the Super Falcons signifies the potential for future prosperity in Nigerian women's football. Striking a balance in promoting both men's and women's sports could lead to greater visibility and inspire more young Nigerian athletes like Asisat Oshoala.
