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AWCON 2018 Review: The evolvement of Asisat Oshoala and Nigeria
Nigeria bagged their historic 9th Africa Women’s Cup of Nations title early this month in Cameroon. After decades of dominance, we however noticed a change in the state of affairs in the women’s game on the continent, even in the once leading woman.
“Her dedication to her talent has gone a long way to show us how much an African woman can achieve if she dedicates herself to it. Babe, we love you regardless of just being counted as a good substitute.”
After being crowned more than any other team in the Total Women’s AFCON, the Super Falcons are struggled to keep their heads above the water in this year’s tournament. After losing their first match to Banyana Banyana by 1-0 scoreline, their win against the She-polopolo of Zambia was the only reason why they were not knocked out earlier in the tournament. Have they evolved, the Nigeria side who were once like a gun packed with bullets? I mean, they have Asisat in their team. Now that they have taken the title home, how much weight of the club has this lady carried on her shoulders.
Asisat Oshoala of Nigeria reacts after missing a breakaway attempt during the FIFA Women's U-20 Final against Germany at Olympic Stadium on August 24, 2014 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)
(Aug. 23, 2014 - Source: Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images North America)
First and second match
The coach, Thomas Dennerby expressed his disappointment not only because of the Super Falcons’ loss but even when they won. He mentioned that the goals that they scored did not match the quality that he had cultivated into the team. Even Asisat was not playing at the expected level that we had also praised her at in our deep dive about her. She was held responsible for missing several chances that came to the Nigerian side. Notably, in the 69th minute, she collided with a good opportunity which was however, eclipsed by her teammate Ordega. Even though she was the best goal scorer in the same tournament two years ago, she was not able to score up to that point. Two matches with nothing? Babes, you got us worried at that point.
Third Match
Francisca Ordega #17 of Nigeria celebrates her game-tying goal against Sweden with Onome Ebi #5, Asisat Oshoala #8 and Ngozi Ebere #23 during the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Group D match between Sweden and Nigeria at Winnipeg Stadium on June 8, 2015 in Winnipeg, Canada.
(June 7, 2015 - Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images North America)
Chances do not just come, but they do come to revive lost hope. In their third match, against Equatorial Guinea she snatched 3 goals out of 6, to her name. That is incredibly carrying half of the weight of the team on her shoulders. In as much as some claimed that this was not her full potential being realised, it was still in line with the greatness we always anticipate from her. They say the higher you go, the colder it becomes, but that was not the case for Nigeria. The higher they went up the game, the hotter and harder it became. Their match against Cameroon led to a goalless 90 minutes of just running around the pitch. However, when it came to the desperate measures, penalties, Asisat was put on the spotlight and she lived up to the expectation ad scored. That was another 25% of the team’s victory carried on her head the same way some African women carry water pots on their heads.
Final Match
We are not sure if it came with the nerves that was exerted by the pressure or what, but she missed the penalty which happened to be Nigeria’s only chance to snatch the trophy under normal time. She also lost the Top Goal Scorer Award to Thembi Kgatlana from South Africa. At least her name appeared in the best substitutes’ list. Has she fallen from glory?
Sometimes it is not your present performance that affords you credit, but your past contribution to the team is what we cannot forget. Asisat might have not performed at the expected level in this tournament but we know how much she has done, not just for herself but for the Nigerians and the rest of African women. Her dedication to her talent has gone a long way to show us how much an African woman can achieve if she dedicates herself to it. Babe, we love you regardless of just being counted as a good substitute.
What you need to know about the Women's AFCON 2018
The 2018 Total Women’s African Cup of Nations is almost here. Here is all you need to know about the tournament and take a peek on who are the eight finalists vying for the prize.
Shanshan Wang of China and Janine van Wyk of South Africa head the ball during the Women's Group E first round match between South Africa and China PR on Day 1 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 6, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
(Aug. 5, 2016 - Source: Harry How/Getty Images South America)
Do you miss the World Cup or probably wish there were many more varied football matches to look out for other than just the acclaimed European football leagues or the less followed but equally entertaining domestic leagues on the African continent? If you are really eager for something new and more so run by women, 2018 is your year. The much-celebrated women of Africa who have literally borne the continent will take it to the pitch and remind everyone, who the bosses are.
Brief History
The women’s Africa Cup of Nations officially named the Total Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. by reason of CAF’s running ten-year sponsorship deal with Total, was first contested in 1991. The biennial tournament pits eight national teams in the finals after a series of preliminary qualifying rounds. The most successful team in the tourney are the Super Falcons of Nigeria with a record ten titles followed by Equatorial Guinea with two. In fact, no other team has won the prize besides these two.
Current Champions
You would have probably guessed that it's Nigeria. The Super Falcons have been unrelenting in their journey of total dominance over the years. If you have been the follower of the tournament you must remember the legendary Perpetua Ijeoma Nkowcha. Perpetua won five of the seven AFCON tournaments in the Falcons colors. She is a deadly assailant in front of goal with 80 goals in 99 caps for Nigeria. They won the 2016 campaign in Cameroon after defeating the hosts, 1-0 in the final. Let it be known, women’s football on the continent is just getting better and better, one would be brave to fancy Nigeria to continue this dominance in the foreseeable future.
Where and When?
Ghana will be hosting the 2018 Total Women’s Africa Cup of Nations from the 17th of November to the 1st of December. The tournament is scheduled to run in two cities namely Accra and Cape Coast. There were media reports flying around suggesting that the West African nation may be stripped of its rights to host the tourney but the final verdict will be known after CAF’s Executive meeting to be held between 27-28 September 2018.
Francisca Ordega #17 of Nigeria celebrates her game-tying goal against Sweden with Onome Ebi #5, Asisat Oshoala #8 and Ngozi Ebere #23 during the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015 Group D match between Sweden and Nigeria at Winnipeg Stadium on June 8, 2015 in Winnipeg, Canada.
Who will be participating in the finals?
The eight teams fighting for the coveted prize are as follows:
The Black Queens of Ghana (hosts)
The Super Falcons of Nigeria
The She-polopolo of Zambia
Banyana Banyana of South Africa
Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea
The Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon
The Fennecs of Algeria
The Female Eagles of Mali
These eight will be placed in two groups of four, with the first two teams from each group advancing to the semi-finals.
Players to look out for in the qualifiers
African Women’s Footballer of the Year award winner for the years 2014, 2016 and 2017, Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala will be on show again this year. The 23-year-old ran away with the player of the tournament in 2016 and would most certainly be a key ingredient in the Falcons’ proposed title defence. Oshoala is currently enjoying life in China bagging the 2017 Chinese Women’s Super League Top goalscorer award, a much needed breath of fresh air after less ideal career at Liverpool and Arsenal ladies. Here is a full list of the guns to watch out for.
Women’s AFCON Fun-Fact
The top three teams from the AFCON finals like the one in November, secure qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. This year in particular, should Equatorial Guinea be in the top three, the fourth team gets the spot by virtue of the central African country serving a ban imposed by FIFA