Sports

Real reasons Asisat Oshoala left FC Barcelona for USA’s Bay FC

Published

10 months ago

February 3, 2024

The transfer of Super Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala, from FC Barcelona Femini of Spain to Bay FC in the US National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) may have gone under the radar due to the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) currently ongoing in Ivory Coast.

However, beyond the regular reasons of her contract running out or her seeking new pastures and challenges in a different league and country, insiders have given deeper reasons into her decision to quit the Spanish league where she won four league titles, the Champions League twice and eight domestic cups, and had 117 goals in 162 games during her five years stint.

According to the Spanish club, Oshoala was out of contract at the end of the season and had decided to move on by signing for the American club for an undisclosed fee.

The 29-year-old striker who started her career in 2009 with FC Robo of Lagos before moving to Rivers Angels from 2013 to 2015, Liverpool Ladies from 2015 to 2016, Arsenal Ladies from 2016 to 2017, Dalian Quanjian FC from 2017 to 2019, FC Barcelona in 2019, also spoke about her recent move in a statement on her Instagram page.

“I stayed five years in Barcelona and that’s like the longest I’ve stayed at a club to be honest.

“And I felt I just want to change and to try something different and also I just want to have fun. And when I was presented with the project of this club liked it and decided to go with it.”

But according to a close confidant of the 2023 African Women’s Footballer of the Year, Oshoala’s move from Barcelona is a step towards planning for her retirement.

The confidant, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the six-time African Women Player of the Year could have signed for any club in Europe or even in the lucrative Saudi Female League but had to take her future into consideration.

“I have known Asisat for years, right from our days at Robo FC and I can say for sure that she decided to go to America as part of her retirement plans.

“Remember she is 29 and how long will she continue to play at the highest level?

“She had the opportunity of signing for big clubs in Europe or even in Saudi Arabia but she opted for the US.

“She is also looking at her future. This is part of her retirement plan. She wants to use the opportunity and go back to school and get a degree she can fall back on after her career. And don’t forget, she is a woman and starting a family may also be part of the general plans,” she said.

Related Topics:Asisat Oshoala Bay FC FC Barcelona Featured

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Sports

TP Mazembe pip AS FAR to win African Women’s Champions League

Published

1 day ago

November 24, 2024

Isaac Dachen

TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) became the third team to win the 2024 African Women’s Champions League after narrowly defeating AS FAR of Morocco 1-0 in the final played on Sunday at the El Jadida’s Stade Ben Ahmed El Abdi Stadium.

TP Mazembe claimed the title for the first time courtesy of a 10th minute penalty which was converted by Marlene Kasaj after AS FAR captain Aziza Rabbah handled the ball in the box.

The Congolese side should have doubled their lead six minutes later when an unmarked Merveille Kanjinga fired wide from seven yards out before the more fancied home team gradually grew into the match and looked to cancel the deficit and add to their continental triumph in 2022.

But AS FAR put in a subdued display and failed to test Mazembe’s goalkeeper Fideline Ngoy, with tournament top scorer Doha El Madani who had netted six goals in their run to the final, wasting their best chance as she sliced a first-half free-kick wide.

With the triumph, TP Mazembe carted home the giant trophy and a cheque for $600,000 (£479,000) after the prize money was increased for the fourth edition of the tournament, while the AS FAR went home with $400,000 (£319,000).

Sports

Wafcon 2024 draw throws up interesting pairings

Published

2 days ago

November 23, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The draw for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) holding in Morocco from July 5 to 26 next year which was held on Friday, threw up some interesting match-ups to look forward to as hosts Morocco found themselves in what has been described as the group of death.

The Atlas Lionesses will have to contend with Zambia, DR Congo and Senegal in Group A, while Group B has record 11-time continental champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria slugging it out with Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana, just as current defending champions, Banyana Banyana of South Africa will do battle with Ghana, Mali and Tanzania in Group C.

The top two sides in each group will progress to the quarter-finals, alongside the two best third-placed finishers.

Though qualification for the 2024 Wafcon was completed in December last year, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), was forced to push the finals into 2025 because of international football’s congested calendar, which included the participation of Nigeria and Zambia at the Olympics.

Morocco also staged the 2022 edition of Wafcon, ending as runners-up, and former international Fatiha Laassiri believes home support will provide “a real advantage” next year.

Wafcon 2024 group draw with world ranking in brackets:

Group A: Morocco (hosts, 59), Zambia (62), Senegal (83), DR Congo (102).

Group B: Nigeria (36), Tunisia (78), Algeria (84), Botswana (153).

Group C: South Africa (holders, 50), Ghana (66), Mali (81), Tanzania (145).