National Teams
Paris 2024: Asisat Oshoala expresses confidence in Nigeria chances in tough group
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Bay FC forward and record African Women’s Player of the Year winner Asisat Oshoala is confident that Nigeria’s senior women’s national team can qualify from a tough group in the women’s football event of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The nine-time African champions will face Spain, Japan, and Brazil in the group stage as the team returns to the Summer Olympics after 16 years of absence. The Super Falcons’ opponents are all in the top ten of the latest FIFA rankings while the West African side occupies the 36th position.
Randy Waldrum’s side faced a similar experience at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup where they scaled through a tough group that has co-host Australia, Olympic champions Canada, and the Republic of Ireland.
“At the World Cup last year, people said the same thing,” Oshoala FIFA.
“They said we were in the Group of Death [with Australia, Canada, and the Republic of Ireland] and could not qualify. But we did. I have a lot of confidence in this team. We have many young players and we can make things difficult for our opponents. We don’t just think about getting out of the group, I think we can actually walk away with a medal.”
Oshoala’s electrifying skills have yet to be showcased at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament – but that’s all set to change at Paris 2024.
Nigeria has qualified for the competition for the first time since 2008, and Oshoala is primed to spearhead the Super Falcons’ charge in France.
“This will be a special event,” she told FIFA. “I’ve never been to the Olympics before, but I’ve heard a lot about it. I’m looking forward to it so much – if I make the team!”
Oshoala will strive to lead from the front during Nigeria’s Olympic campaign – and she believes the team’s relentless energy makes them a force to be reckoned with.
