Super Falcons interim head coach, Justine Madugu, has cleared the air on Asisat Oshoala’s future with the team, Completesports.com reports.
Oshoala, 30, has not been involved with the nine-time African champions since the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
The six- time African Women’s Footballer of the Year was excluded from the Super Falcons squad for the double header friendlies against the Green Ladies of Algeria last month.
Madugu invited only seven foreign-based stars for the game in a squad dominated by local players.
The gaffer raised further eye brow by excluding the former Barcelona Ladies star from the 20-player rooster released on Sunday for the friendly against Les Bleues of France.
The friendly against France will hold at the Stade Raymond Kopa, Angers on Saturday.
“Asisat Oshoala is still an integral member of the Super Falcons, an important player in the team. She has some documentation problems in the US, that’s why we didn’t invite her for this game,” Madugu divulged to Completesports.com.
“Her visa and work permit has expired and she is working to renew it. That’s the challenge she is facing at the moment.
“She cannot leave the US pending when the documents are done. She’s not invited because of documentation problem, not because she is not good enough to still play for the team.”
Oshoala’s Struggles
Oshoala has struggled to impress on the international scene in recent times despite her stellar showing at club level especially during her stint with Spanish Liga F outfit, Barcelona Ladies.
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The former FC Robo Queens star registered 92 goals in 108 league appearances for the Blaugurana.
She left for NWSL club, Bay FC early this year.
The talented striker scored once in four outings for the Super Falcons at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
She fired blanks in three appearances for the West Africans at the Olympic Games.
“Asisat has done so much for the national team and she still has a lot to offer. You know when you are trying to rebuild a team, you have to look at all your plans (short, medium and long),” Madugu stated.
“There are players that will fit in into the different plans that you have. Asisat might not have met people’s expectations, but we have to consider the fact that every coach has his own philosophy.
“Sometimes some players might not fit into the way a coach wants to play which can affect the productivity or output such player.
“African players, Nigerian players are known to always express themselves on the pitch. They love attacking football.
“When there is a different approach or a player is ask to play otherwise there will always be a challenge. When you ask a striker to drop back to come and defend around the box, how often can the player has the energy to attack and score for the team.”
Rebuilding Process
Madugu was appointed Super Falcons interim head coach in September following American Randy Waldrum’s resignation.
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The experienced tactician has tried to inject new players into the team since his appointment.
“It is important to give more local players opportunity in the team.We need to see how we improve the image of our league and attract sponsors,” Madugu added.
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“It is also important to give the local players the opportunity to showcase their talents on the international scene.
“A lot of our good talents have been rushing out to different countries signing two, three, four months contract because of the erroneous believe that is only when they go out to play as professionals that they will get the chance to play for the national team.
“We want to change that trend, keep our local players at home and see how their welfares can be improved upon. If you have all these good players at home it makes it easier to attract sponsors and invest in the league.”
By Adeboye Amosu
4 Comments
“African players, Nigerian players are known to always express themselves on the pitch. They love attacking football.”
Want to go toe to toe with France ranked 26th places ABOVE YOU because your heart is telling it’s Algeria abi? E be like say “interim” really fits you.
This “rebuilding” talk is not making sense to me at all. It seems local coaches have “express yourself” drummed into their ears and when the horse has bolted, they now shut the gates.
Maybe that’s Nigeria’s football philosophy according to NFF. Facing France with debutants who haven’t spent a week together. Okay. Let’s see the Nigerian Man City. Ah, I must watch expressive and expansive football on Saturday or that will be an act of cowardice, Mr Madugu.
Home base this, home base that is just an agenda to sell players and get their share.
Exactly! That’s how Oshoala, Rasheedat, Nnadozie, Abiodun, Gift Monday, Ohale, Oparanozie, and all those other Super Falcons players who were capped as home-based players were “sold” for “shares”. SMH
Blah, blah, blah….yaaaawwwwwnnnn
Abegi, allow us to watch the game first before writing your “review”. SMH