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Asisat Oshoala Says WAFCON Title Worth Fighting For

Published

3 months ago

July 17, 2026

Asisat Oshoala WAFCON comments underline Nigeria’s ambition to retain the title as the Super Falcons prepare for the tournament in Morocco

Asisat Oshoala, Nigeria’s six-time African Women’s Player of the Year and Super Falcons forward, has described the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations as a prize “worth fighting for” as the defending champions step up preparations for the 2026 tournament in Morocco.

Also read: Okocha’s World Cup Dribble Record Survives Messi Masterclass

Oshoala, one of the first players to report to Nigeria’s training camp in Casablanca, said the Super Falcons remain determined to retain the continental title while urging greater investment in promoting women’s football across Africa.

“I am looking forward to Nigeria winning it again. It’s something to always fight for, but I feel like each edition there has to be a form of improvement on and off the pitch,” Oshoala said during a Confederation of African Football Media Stars Spotlight session.

The 31-year-old added that increased fan engagement and stronger promotion would help raise the profile of the women’s game across the continent.

“I really want to see more fans out there and it was better than the previous ones. I think more promotions for this one will preach more about African women’s football,” she said.

Nigeria enter the tournament as the most successful team in WAFCON history, having lifted the trophy a record 10 times.

The Super Falcons are chasing an 11th continental title when the competition runs from 25 July to 16 August in Morocco.

Oshoala has played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s recent success, winning the championship in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2024.

The former FC Barcelona star reflected on her international career, describing it as a rewarding experience while acknowledging there is still room for growth.

“It’s been an amazing journey for me personally having to experience all of this and playing in other continents. It’s been pretty impressive and there are always room for improvement,” Oshoala said.

The Super Falcons, led by head coach Justine Madugu, have been drawn in Group C alongside Malawi, Zambia and Egypt. Nigeria will open its campaign against tournament debutants Malawi in Rabat on 28 July.

Beyond the race for continental honours, this year’s tournament carries added significance as it serves as a qualification route for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The four semi-finalists will secure automatic qualification, while the best-performing quarter-finalist will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.

Also read: Okocha’s World Cup Dribble Record Survives Messi Masterclass

With expectations high and preparations gathering pace, Oshoala’s remarks reflect both Nigeria’s ambition to defend its crown and a broader desire to see African women’s football continue its impressive growth on and off the pitch.

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Opinion

Why Are Football Fans Expecting Trophy Haul from Man City’s 114 Breaches?

Published

12 hours ago

September 30, 2026

Mariam Balogun

By Tai Emeka Obasi,

It is exceedingly terrible for clubs operating in a league as supremely elite as the English Premier League, EPL, to fraudulently cheat themselves to massive success.

Also read: NFF Appeals CAF Ruling on Edo Queens’ WAFU-B Victory

Rules are rules, and supposedly responsible club managements should comply with them in administering a game termed the beautiful game.

Manchester City is currently in the eye of the storm for all the wrong reasons.

A whopping 115 breaches were brought against the club, with reports now indicating that an independent commission found City guilty of 114 of them.

The club, however, maintains that the Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements still to be completed and subject to strict confidentiality.

Manchester City chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, has appealed to the fans to remain calm and faithful, insisting that the club will continue to defend its position and pursue the available legal process.

According to reports, Manchester City is expected to appeal the verdict. The sanctions have not yet been announced, and the possible consequences could include a heavy fine, points deduction, stripping of titles or even relegation.

From the available reporting, however, there is no basis for football fans to start celebrating the prospect of receiving Manchester City’s trophies.

Even if titles were eventually stripped, the relevant period under investigation is 2009 to 2018.

During that period, Manchester City won three Premier League titles, in 2011/12, 2013/14 and 2017/18, as well as three League Cups, in 2013/14, 2015/16 and 2017/18.

That immediately puts a different complexion on the matter.

For instance, Manchester United finished runners-up to City in the 2011/12 and 2017/18 Premier League seasons, while Liverpool finished second in 2013/14.

But whether those titles would actually be reassigned to the runners-up is another matter entirely.

There is no automatic rule that says a stripped title simply moves to the team that finished second. Any such outcome would depend on the eventual sanction imposed by the relevant authorities.

The same applies to Arsenal and the League Cup. Arsenal were beaten by City in the 2018 final, but that does not mean Arsenal would automatically inherit the trophy if City were sanctioned.

Expert opinion has suggested that the eventual punishment could include a substantial financial penalty and a huge points deduction, potentially severe enough to threaten City with relegation.

But until the sanction is formally determined, nobody can say with certainty what punishment Manchester City will receive.

For Gunners fans, therefore, we should lower our expectations from City’s debacle. Even if Manchester City are eventually found guilty after the appeal process and even if they are relegated, Arsenal will not stroll to this season’s title.

Our last match against Brighton and Hove Albion is a huge warning that our squad is not as complete as it is generally acclaimed to be.