October 19, (THEWILL) -Asisat Oshoala, Nigeria international for FC Barcelona Femeni, was named to FIFA’s Technical Advisory Group on Women’s Football on Monday.
The Super Falcons Captain is the only current African player in the TAG, which is led by former FIFA World Women’s Coach of the Year Jillian Anne Ellis. Ellis is the only two-time winner of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the current President of the San Diego NWSL club.
Desiree Ellis, the head coach of South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, Emma Hayes, the Chelsea coach, and USA star Alex Morgan are also on the team.
Competitive balance, increased opportunities for underserved nations, a FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, increased visibility and participation, FIFA international windows, prize money, and the possibility of staging a biennial FIFA Women’s World Cup are some of the topics on the TAG’s agenda.
The TAG, which includes representatives from each of the six continental confederations and includes players, coaches, referees, administrators, sports scientists, and executives, held its second meeting on Friday, October 15.
“I’m honoured to be chosen by FIFA to lead this project,” Jillian Ellis said about the TAG project.
“The growth of women’s football is a key objective for FIFA. Like any initiative, the first step is to gather all of the information and start to make next steps for how this advisory group can be impactful for tangible change for the growth and advancement of the women’s game.”
“It’s time for women’s football to definitely assume the importance it has at all levels and create its own path of growth and advancement, notwithstanding the obviously necessary coordination with the men’s game namely to avoid calendar overlaps.
“We will take the information gathered from the Technical Advisory Group and a wider consultation group to take informed ideas to a broader audience,” Ellis concluded.
The women’s TAG participants include:
Footballers
Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria)
Deyna Castellanos (Venezuela)
Lindsey Horan (USA)
Alex Morgan (USA)
Wendie Renard (France)
Ali Riley (New Zealand)
Ex-Footballers
Kristine Lilly (USA)
Laura Georges (France)
Karina LeBlanc (Canada)
Lotta Schelin (Sweden)
Kelly Smith (England)
Sun Wen (China)
Football Managers/Coaches/Administrators
Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
Mark Parsons (England)
Emma Hayes (England)
Doreen Nabwire (Kenya)
Ricardo Rambo (Brazil)
Pia Sundhage (Sweden)
Jorge Vilda (Spain)
Sports Scientist
Dawn Scott (England)
Referee
Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb (Germany)
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
