Asisat Oshoala and Nigeria believe in their chance for the 2023 Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The five-time African player of the year returned on the draw of her team housed in pool C with Canada, Australia and the Republic of Ireland.
The Super Falcons now know their opponents for the 2023 Women's World Cup. Lodged in Pool C, the Nigerians will face co-hosts Australia, Olympic champions Canada and the Republic of Ireland. Will they be able to make it through this tough group to the second round? For the Nigerian star and five-time African Golden Ball winner, Asisat Oshoala, his team can believe in its chances.
"We have a very good group. This is the World Cup and it's not supposed to be easy or a walk in the park. With the group we have, I feel we have a chance," the Barcelona striker told BBC Sport Africa.
Canada, Australia, Ireland superior to Nigeria on paper
The task will not be easy, however. The Super Falcons will have to pull out all the stops if they hope to get good results against opponents who, on paper, are a step above them. Especially since Asisat Oshoala and his team will face Canada, the seventh ranked team in the world and the 2020 Olympic champions, in their first match of the tournament on July 21, 2023.
"We are facing Canada, a team we know very well, and of course Australia," added Oshoala. It won't be as easy against the Republic of Ireland, but we had Australia in our group in 2015. We lost to them 2-0. This is a good opportunity for us to come back and prove that we have improved from last time. We have a very good group and we are really excited for the tournament."
Nine-time African champions Nigeria are the only team from the continent to have participated in the last eight editions of the Women's World Cup since 1991. Without much success, however. Their best performance in a World Cup remains a quarter-final in 1999.
Hoping to be among the players who will represent her country next July, Asisat Oshoala can't wait to see what 2023 will bring for Nigeria at the world stage.
