Oshoala sure Nigeria will beat Mali

Super Falcons and Liverpool ladies forward, Azizat Oshoala, has assured Nigerians that the players value the All African Games ticket so much that they would not take the encounter against the Malians lightly today in Abuja.

The Liverpool of England female team striker, who joined the national team earlier in the week, told journalists in Abuja that everybody in the team was aware of the importance of winning the match, insisting that there would be no hiding place for the Malians, who held them to a 1-1 draw in the first leg played in Bamako.

Oshoala, who is the reigning African Woman Footballer of the Year, assured Nigerians that the players have received enough training to ensure total victory in the encounter taking place at the Abuja National Stadium, adding that they will not underestimate the Malians in today’s match.

“As a team, we are well aware of the importance of the game. With the level of tune-up games we have played, you can see the commitment of the girls, everybody is ready for the clash against Mali. After playing a draw in the first leg, we are not coming here for jokes, but we are coming all out to show them that we have a greater team than what they experienced in the first game in their country.”

On her professional career in Europe, She said she has already overcome the initial hiccups she encountered in England, like weather condition and adapting to the play of the Europeans, explaining that Europe’s pattern of football has some slight difference from the Nigerian league.

“Actually, it was not very difficult for me to settle down in my new club in England… the girls are very cooperative but the weather might be a little bit difficult but I am adapting to the playing pattern and the weather also,”
she stated.