Barcelona of Spain star, Asisat Oshoala has come hard on the Confederations of African Football CAF following their decision to cancel this year’s African Women’s championship.CAF announced on Wednesday that the competition will no longer hold this year because of the widely spread coronavirus pandemic.
The super eagles top striker who has won the competition multiple times with Nigeria said the tournament should have been postponed instead of outright cancelation. Oshoala said the decision taken by the African football governing body has further dragged the development of women football on the continent backward as she is not happy with the manner in which the competition is taken as a pinch of salt.
Speaking to the BBC, the African footballer of the year said “It is not looking good for women’s football in Africa when you struggle to get a host nation for a continental tournament every two years,” Oshoala said in an Instagram interview. “If you’re moving forward the tournament to some time in 2021, it is okay but to completely cancel it?, we need a proper explanation. This is more like taking five steps forward and taking 10 steps backward.
“Going to the World Cup with two teams going through to the Round of 16 was good for us and showed we are improving.
“Before the next edition, we should have two Awcon to prepare ourselves but canceling one shows there are no plans for the national teams in 2021 calendar outside the Women’s Champions League.
“Caf needs to understand the women teams are not just representing their countries at the World Cup but the whole continent.
“We cannot be at this level in 2020. It is a shame. Caf needs to go back to their drawing board to make sure they fix women’s football in one of their top priorities.
“They have to prioritize marketing women’s football. These things are happening in Europe, the Women’s Champions League or the Euro tournaments are still going to go on and will not be canceled. She said.
The angry Nigerian striker took to social media to pour out her frustration last Friday. She also noted that other competitions were postponed but one of the women was canceled. “Other competitions postponed but AWCON canceled” thank you once again for making us realize women’s football isn’t important to you. Congratulations on dragging us back again. Adios to all the women National teams in Africa, see y’all in 2022” she said on Twitter.
The decision is a huge set back for the Super Falcons of Nigeria who are hoping to defend the crown they won two years ago in Ghana.
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