By Daily Sports Nigeria on April 22, 2025

Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala’s academy is equipping young Nigerian girls with football skills and leadership qualities through its programmes aimed at preparing them for life beyond the pitch.

The Asisat Oshoala Foundation organised an Easter Fiesta event on Monday at the Femi Gbajabiamila Mini Stadium in Ojuelegba. The programme, branded as “S.H.E PLAYS” (Sports, Humanitarian, Education), included life skills and leadership sessions, mentorship opportunities, soccer skills training, CPR instruction, and a mini football tournament.

“For me, I believe that the future is female, and we have to start teaching our young girls life skills, and leadership skills. We organise this sort of event to teach them skills that will help them succeed in whatever field they go into because not everyone will make it as a professional footballer,” said Lanre Vigo, Academy Director.

Oluwaseun Savage, Head of Operations at the academy, explained that the Easter Fiesta is an annual sports humanitarian programme that allows girls to explore various activities.

“We used this edition to bring the girls together, learn more about football, and discover their leadership skills. We teach them other means outside playing football that they can also become coaches and managers,” Savage said.

The foundation, established eight years ago, emphasises comprehensive development beyond merely playing football. According to Alabi Kazeem, head coach of the Academy, this approach acknowledges football’s limited career span.

“Football has a lifespan as well, hardly will you find a girl playing more than 15 years, and after that, some will need things to fall back on and that is what Asisat Oshoala is particularly about,” Kazeem explained.

The academy has already produced notable talents who have represented Nigeria at youth levels, including Janet Semenya who now plays for Nasarawa Amazons.

In partnership with Lagos State, the academy also operates a vocational study centre teaching carpentry, hairdressing, and bead making, among other skills.

One participant, Aminat Ajao, a 400-level engineering student at the University of Ilorin who plays as a defender, spoke about the challenges of combining her football career with education. She cited Oshoala and Super Falcons defender Michelle Alozie as her role models, particularly admiring Alozie for successfully balancing education with football.

“We need more camps like this so they can motivate girls. Those whose parents don’t support them playing football, if they see these types of programs, they will allow them. Thank you, Asisat Oshoala, for this program,” Ajao said.

Vigo added that the academy plans to expand its reach beyond Lagos but would need support from corporate bodies and the government to maximise impact.

“We are still going to do a couple more events this year. The academy runs all year around and we want to bring in more girls and go to schools as well to teach them more of these skills that they can make a living out of aside from football,” he said.

Source Punch Ng

Posted April 22, 2025

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