I will support NFF to make women football great, says Oshoala

•Arsenal star unveiled as ’Face of 2016 Federation Cup’

African Female Player of the Year, Super Falcons and Arsenal lady striker, Asisat Lamina Oshoala, has promised to join hands with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in uplifting the game.

Oshoala was unveiled yesterday in Lagos as the ‘Face of 2016 Women Federation Cup’ by the NFF in conjunction with HS Media Group, a leading sports marketing firm in the country.

Speaking via a recorded video, Oshoala said being recognised as ‘Face of 2016 Women Federation Cup’ was a responsibility and also a clarion call to contribute more to the game of women football in Nigeria.

“It has always been my desire to encourage younger footballers in Nigeria,” Oshoala said. “I am prepared to join hands with the NFF to rekindle the passion and bring back the crowd for this age-old competition in Nigeria.”

The unveiling, which took place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, was part of activities lined up for this year’s Women Federation Cup final between Rivers Angels and Bayelsa Queens later this month.

Before she took her club football to England, Oshoala won the Federations Cup title twice with Rivers Angels in 2013 and 2014. She is expected to be at the final in Lagos.

NFF First Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi said yesterday that the Federation had put structures in place for sponsors to roll in for the women game, just as he praised HS Media Group, led by Taye Ige, for its efforts in re-positioning women football in the country.

The Chairman/CEO HS Media Group, Taye Ige said they were gingered into action to save the Women Federation Cup from its dwindled perception, which as a result, has made it unattractive to corporate organisations in Nigeria.

He said HS Media Group’s effort was meant to compliment the resolve of the Organising Committee of the Federation Cup, headed by Seyi Akinwunmi to reposition and bring back the glory days of the tournament.

“Our choice of Asisat Oshoala, Super Falcons ace and Arsenal Ladies forward who herself is a product of this competition, as the ‘Face of 2016 Women Federation Cup,’ is hinged on our firm belief that, as the most outstanding female footballer in the Continent of Africa today, she represents a role model for millions of our young girls (and boys) aspiring to make names for themselves in football.

“This giant step will, no doubt, open a floodgate of leveraging opportunities for stakeholders at various levels such that the tournament will become the brand and bride of choice for corporate bodies in the future,” he said.

Meanwhile, the NFF Fist Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi, who is the chairman of Lagos FA, has revealed that the state has nine players in the national female U-17 team, Flamingoes, currently campaigning at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan. He expressed satisfaction with the state’s grassroots grogrammes, which he said is yielding positive results.

The Flamingoes wasted several scoring opportunities to settle for 0-0 scoreline in their second group match against England yesterday. They had lost 0-1 to Brazil in their first group game on Saturday.