Emulate Oshoala, Sports Minister Counsels Nigerian Youths
Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, has advised Nigerian youths to emulate the 2017 AITEO CAF Woman Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala.
While congratulating the striker who plays for Dalian Quanjian F.C. in the Chinese Women’s Super League, Dalung said the recent award was a due recognition of a well deserving youth.
“In a country dominated by a young population between the ages of 19 and 30 years, there is a need to channel our energies into worthwhile ventures to make Nigeria great again.
“This award is not just for Asisat Oshoala alone, but for every youth out there currently defying the odds just to make a name for himself or herself,” observed the minister.
Dalung, while enjoining the teeming youths on the need to stay focused and carve a niche for themselves, said the recent success of Oshoala has reiterated the Nigerian spirit of ‘Can Do’.
“Anyone can achieve any level of success with the right approach, dedication, hard work and diligence.”
Dalung advised that with the right attitude, determination and hard work, Oshoala can surpass the all time record holder, Perpetua Nkwocha with four CAF African Women Footballer of the year awards.
The AITEO CAF Football Awards took place last Thursday evening in the Ghanaian capital, Accra.
Meanwhile, Oshoala, has called for more fixtures to be arranged for Nigeria’s senior women’s team, the Super Falcons after a friendly against France was confirmed for the coach-less side in April.
The match, scheduled for April 4 in Paris, will be the Super Falcons’ first since winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in December 2016.
Oshoala welcomes the fixture but said Nigeria need more games ahead of the qualifiers for this year’s Nations Cup in Ghana.
“It’s a good one, a big step for us and good news for women’s football in Nigeria generally but it’s not enough,” Oshoala told BBC Sport.
“It’s not about the France game alone, but we need more games like this and we don’t have to plead before we get games,” she added.
This year’s Women’s Nations Cup will take on extra significance as it will also decide the continent’s teams for the 2019 Women’s World Cup.
The NFF is still searching for a coach for the eight-time African Champions after American Randy Waldrum rejected the opportunity to lead the team last month.
Oshoala whose performances for her new Chinese club Dalian Quanjian saw her triumph ahead of Chrestina Kgatlana and Gabrielle Onguene in the race for the 2017 African player of the year prize, is confident a new coach to succeed Florence Omagbemi will be announced soon.