WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
FIFA website celebrates Nigeria’s Aisha Falode
- Aisha Falode is the immediate pastPresident of the Nigeria Women Football League
- A former journalist, she is passionate about women’s rights in Africa
- Also participated in the Women in Football Leadership Programme
Mercy Akide, Perpetua Nkwocha and Asisat Oshoala are just some of the names writ large in the annals of Nigerian women’s football. Thanks to their dribbling, goals and passes, these legends have helped make Nigeria a force in the women’s game.
And while Aisha Falode is no Super Falcon nor anything like as talented with the ball at her feet, what she has brought to African sport in general and Nigerian football in particular, in terms of ideas, philosophy and inspiration, has been no less valuable.
Beyond her extensive career as a journalist, during which she covered several FIFA World Cups™, the current President of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) has also emerged as one of the most ardent defenders of women’s rights on the Mother Continent.
Understandably, she figured prominently among the 36 participants at the fourth edition of the Women in Football Leadership Programme in Lausanne in March.
“The programme has had a considerable impact on me, because of what I learned – the activities and meetings I was able to take part in, as well as the ideas that have been shared,” she tells FIFA.com. “It’s been both exciting and eye-opening.
Many subjects were addressed in a short time span. Nonetheless, that time was precious considering the experience and knowledge that we were all able to take back to our respective countries.”
Organised annually, this seminar is a learning platform for women leaders in the game who wish to further their education, expand their knowledge and develop a coherent network to promote the integration of women in the world of football.
Nominated by their respective member associations, participants come from all six confederations and hold leadership positions as diverse as general secretary, executive committee member, director or president, a position held by Aisha Falode in the NWFL Premiership.
“I learned a lot from this seminar. It reminded me how each team member has something to contribute to the overall development of a group, as well as the fundamental importance of listening,” she says. “Everyone has their own character, but it’s the sum and combination of all the individual personalities that makes collective work easier and more productive. And it is through everyone adding their own contribution that we feel valued and appreciated. So just participate!”
And the 36 women gathered in Lausanne certainly did that. During an intensive week, they exchanged knowledge, discussed topics and debated in a constructive and enthusiastic atmosphere. “The content of the course gave us no choice but to do so, and that’s a good thing,” Falode adds. “We had team exercises to do, so we had to lean on each other to accomplish those.
“We had to build relationships, share information and trust each other. We left Lausanne feeling like we’d known each other for ten years!”
No stranger to challenges
“We all have diverse points of view on certain topics. But while differences in perspective exist, there’s always common ground as well and an opportunity for learning and education,” Falode continues. “It’s important to be able to tap into each other’s strengths and very reassuring to know we can count on the support of a group of women who struggle with or share the same challenges as us.”
Indeed, challenges are something Falode has had plenty of in her career.
In a country where women’s liberation has been slower than in many others, there have been many challenges and obstacles along the way.
“As a woman, I certainly had to work harder to get even half of what men have on a silver platter,” she insists. “That struggle continues to this day for me, and I have unfortunately discovered through this programme that many of us are in the same situation.”
This fight is nothing new and, while some battles have been won, there is still so much to be done, as evidenced by the latest staging this Women in Football Leadership Programme. “We must never give up,” insists the Nigerian.
“The resilience I’ve shown is probably what I’m most proud of in my career. You have to assert yourself and be really good at what you do.
“I’m convinced that, in the world of business nowadays, it is impossible to lead without the involvement of women. Furthermore, and this is to be welcomed, the football world is the first to recognize this.”
Aisha Falode is herself living proof of this, having been named President of NWFL Premiership in 2017.
In this role, she has expertly maintained the young league’s (created in 1990) high level of excellence and competitiveness, making it a model for the continent.
Nigeria’s standing as the best African team in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking over the last 20 years owes much to the elevated level of its domestic league, where many of its internationals play.
Clubs such as River Angels, the former home of current Barcelona star Asisat Oshoala, and Bayelsa Queens, who finished third in the 2022 CAF Women’s Champions League, are standard bearers of the women’s game in Africa.
“Nigeria has been a pioneer in Africa for women’s football. It took a long time for other countries to understand that there’s real potential for women in the game,” she says.
“The fact remains that our league hasn’t been professional for very long.
“Conscious that there was a cohort of young girls who were interested in the game, we developed a strategy that would involve all of them in the practice of football. This has been the main focus of my mission.”
“We still have work to do, but we’ve made a lot of progress and I’m delighted that football has become more accessible to our young girls,” she concludes, just days before the start of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™, during which Nigeria, thanks to its incredible talent pool, looks destined to shine.
-Fifa.com
The Iranian soccer team sang and saluted their national anthem ahead of their final Women’s Asian Cup match against the Philippines on Sunday, six days after their decision to remain silent saw them labelled “wartime traitors” on state TV back home.
The Iranians, whose situation had become a cause celebre among human rights campaigners, will play no further part in the tournament after a 2-0 loss to the Philippines at Gold Coast Stadium in the state of Queensland.
Iran coach Marziyeh Jafari told the post-match news conference that the team was keen to return home.
“We are very impatiently waiting to return,” she told reporters. “Personally, I would like to return to my country as soon as possible and be with my compatriots and family.”
Some fans, who had waved the pre-1979 Iranian flag and booed the national anthem inside the ground, tried to prevent the team coach from leaving the stadium precinct, chanting “Save our girls!”.
Reza Pahlavi, an American-based opposition activist and son of the Shah of Iran who was deposed in the 1979 revolution, called on the Australian government to ensure the team’s safety and give them any needed support.
‘ONGOING THREAT’
“The members of the Iranian Women’s National Football Team are under significant pressure and ongoing threat from the Islamic Republic,” he posted on social media platform X.
“As a result of their brave act of civil disobedience in refusing to sing the current regime’s national anthem, they face dire consequences should they return to Iran.”
The team’s campaign in Australia started last weekend just as the U.S. and Israel launched air strikes on their homeland, killing the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The players declined to sing the anthem before their loss to South Korea in their tournament opener on March 2, a decision a commentator on Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting said showed a lack of patriotism and was the “pinnacle of dishonour”.
They did sing the anthem and saluted before their second defeat against the host nation on Thursday, sparking fears among Australian human rights campaigners that they had been coerced by government minders
A petition launched on Friday on the Change.org website urging Australia to give refuge to the team had gathered more than 51,000 signatures late on Sunday.
The petition called on Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to ensure the team did not depart Australia “while credible fears for their safety remain”.
Burke declined to comment on the petition via a spokesperson. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in televised remarks that she did not want to “get into commentary about the Iranian women’s team”.
“Obviously this is a regime that we know has brutally cracked down on its people,” she said.
Players union FIFPRO had previously called on the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA to uphold their human rights obligations and undertake all necessary steps to ensure the safety of Iran’s squad in the wake of the broadcast.
–Reuters
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Japan delivered a ruthless attacking display to thrash India 11-0 on Saturday and book their place in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Asian Cup, while Taiwan secured their first win of the tournament with a narrow 1-0 victory over Vietnam in the other Group C match in Perth.
The Group C leaders, champions in 2014 and 2018, completely overwhelmed India at the Perth Rectangular Stadium, dominating possession and pinning their opponents deep inside their own half for most of the match. India failed to register a single shot as Japan’s relentless attack exposed the gulf in quality between the two sides.
Japan raced into an early lead in the fourth minute when Yuzuki Yamamoto curled in a superb opener before Yui Hasegawa added a second. Hinata Miyazawa then struck twice to extend the advantage, while Kiko Seike converted from the penalty spot to give Japan a commanding 5-0 lead at halftime.
Despite making three changes at the break, Japan showed no signs of easing off. Substitute Riko Ueki made an immediate impact, scoring twice within three minutes before completing her hat-trick in just 18 minutes after Maya Hijikata had also found the net.
Miyazawa rounded off the emphatic victory in the 81st minute to complete her own hat-trick, sealing an 11-0 scoreline that underlined Japan’s dominance as the highest-ranked team in Asia against an Indian side ranked 59 places below them.
Earlier in the day, Taiwan claimed their first victory of the tournament with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Vietnam.
Su Yu-hsuan scored the decisive goal in the first half with a well-taken header to give the three-time Asian champions the lead in a contest where clear chances were limited.
Vietnam, who reached the quarter-finals in the previous edition, pushed forward in search of an equaliser and registered nine attempts on goal. However, none were on target as Taiwan’s disciplined defence held firm to preserve their slender advantage until the final whistle.
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The global representative organisation for professional footballers, FIFPRO, has urged governing bodies responsible for the 2026 Women’s Asian Football Confederation Cup to protect the Iran national team after they were labelled “wartime traitors” by an Iranian state television presenter.
Both FIFA, world football’s governing body, and the AFC have been called upon to “undertake all necessary steps to ensure the safety of Iran’s Women’s National Team players”.
The Iran women’s national football team players did not sing their national anthem before their Asian Cup opener against South Korea in Australia earlier this week.
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting presenter Mohammad Reza Shahbazi said in a video that the players showed a lack of patriotism and their actions amounted to the “pinnacle of dishonour” in footage circulating widely on social media.
“Let me just say one thing: traitors during wartime must be dealt with more severely,” Shahbazi said.
“Anyone who takes a step against the country under war conditions must be dealt with more severely. Like this matter of our women’s football team not singing the national anthem … these people must be dealt with more severely.”
In a statement released on the social media platform X, FIFPRO released a strong and lengthy statement outlining its concerns.
“In addition to the dangerous situation the players would face if they return to Iran following the tournament, FIFPRO Asia/Oceania is deeply concerned by reports that Iranian state television has publicly attacked the members of the team for remaining silent during the national anthem before their opening match,” the statement read.
“Footage circulating online shows Mohammad Reza Shahbazi, a state TV presenter, calling for them to face the ‘stigma of dishonour and betrayal’.
“These statements significantly heighten concerns for the players’ safety should they return to Iran after the tournament.
“FIFPRO Asia/Oceania has once again written to the AFC and FIFA, calling on them to uphold their human rights obligations under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and FIFA’s Human Rights Policy and protect the players.
“We call on the AFC and FIFA to urgently engage with the Iranian Football Association, the Australian Government and all other relevant authorities to ensure that every effort is made to protect the safety of the players.”
The Iranian players stood in silence when Iran’s anthem was played at the Gold Coast ahead of their 3-0 opening loss to South Korea on Monday, though they sang and saluted before a 4-0 defeat by hosts Australia three days later.
The Reuters news agency has contacted both the Asian Football Confederation, the Iranian football federation and the team at the Asian Cup for comment.
Ahead of their game against Australia, Iran forward Sara Didar fought back tears and spoke about the war, while coach Marziyeh Jafari said her players were doing their best to focus on the tournament despite concern for their families back home.
Iran face the Philippines on Sunday in their final group match.
-Aljazeera
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