SAN FRANCISCO, July 10, (THEWILL) – Super Falcons and Barcelona striker, Asisat Oshoala, has criticized the Confederations of African Football (CAF) for its decision to cancel the 2020 edition of the African women’s championship.
Speaking to brila.net in an exclusive interview, Oshoala berated the soccer governing body for not putting women football as a priority.
THEWILL recalls that CAF cancelled the 2020 AWCON due to the coronavirus pandemic.
She said: “The cancelation of the AWCON didn’t meet me well, as a player I really felt bad because that’s the only big tournament we have on the continent.
“This tournament holds every two years and to my surprise, as at March they are still struggling to get host nation and all.
“Then coming out to say other tournaments have been postponed, while the AWCON has been canceled is actually not fair on the players.”
“They should have come up with reasonable explanations, but I believe they don’t have any excuse to cancel the tournament because they have two years to prepare.”
The Barcelona forward stressed that CAF should have built on the success of the previous edition held in Cameron.
“It’s when you invest in something that you want to get a return, like in 2016 tournament, there was a full stadium in Cameroon and everyone came out to support women’s football, which is unusual.
“And I think that was our chance to build on it, Women’s football is getting attention and then four years later, CAF decided to cancel the tournament is really sad.”
ALSO READ: Adepoju Applauds CAF Decision To Shift 2021 AFCON
She further added that women’s football is not getting the necessary attention from CAF adding that it is one of the factors militating against marketing women’s tournaments to prospective investors.
“I don’t think women’s football is getting the attention it needed from CAF and Federations, because if it was the AFCON that was canceled, then various Federation would have come all out to condemn the decision, but it was the AWCON, I don’t think any Federation has come out to release a statement against the decision,” she said.
About the Author
