Vastly experienced Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala has dismissed rumours of her retirement from international football after Nigeria’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations success in Morocco, Footynaija.com reports.
Just hours before the Super Falcons were due to face South Africa in the semi-final, a widely circulated report claimed that the six-time CAF Women’s Player of the Year award had decided to draw the curtains on her illustrious international career.
Lending some sort of credence to the report was Oshoala’s sparse involvement for the Super Falcons at the WAFCON. Despite starting and scoring in Nigeria’s opening match against Tunisia, she was relegated to substitute appearances for the rest of the tournament.
However, the Bay FC forward made an immediate attempt to debunk the news. Although she did not release an official statement, Oshoala posted a meme that suggested the circulating report was a falsehood, via her Instagram story.
After helping Nigeria clinch a historic 10th WAFCON, the veteran forward officially put the rumours to bed while speaking to reporters and reaffirmed her commitment to the national team.
“To be honest with you, I’m always ready. I always tell my girls to stay ready, and I do the same,” Oshoala said, as revealed by Channels TV. “You can be called on at any time, and when you get called on, go out there and show yourself.
“I don’t know where the retirement talks came from, but people will always speak. I get it, so I’m not bothered. I’m still here, I’m still playing, I’m still doing my job, and that’s what I’m focused on.”
The triumphant Super Falcons will arrive in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, later today for a trophy parade before meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.