Former Super Falcons forward, Desire Oparanozie, has charged the Nigeria Football Federation to ensure equal care and attention for both male and female national team players, in a latest report.
NFF President Ibrahim Gusau showcased the organization’s concern for its players by personally visiting injured Super Eagles players.
A photo shared by the Football Federation’s social media pages spotted Gusau posing with Super Eagles vice captain William Troost-Ekong, Porto FC defender Zaidu Sanusi, and FC Nantes forward Simon Moses.
Expressing her concerns, Oparanozie criticized the NFF for not extending the same level of support to injured female athletes as they do to their male counterparts like Tosin Demehin and Ashleigh Plumptre.
“It will be more nice if this is extended to the women too,” Oparanozie wrote on her official X account.
“(Tosin) Demehin is currently injured and is in the same country with (Moses) Simon, (Ashleigh) Plumptre is injured too”
Demehin plays for Stade de Reims in the French women’s top-flight while Simon’s Nantes are also based in France.
The 11-time Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champions recently secured their spots in the 2024 Olympic tournament, demonstrating their prowess on the field after defeating Banyana Banyana of South Africa.
With tough opponents like Brazil and Spain in their group, coach Randy Waldrum will need key players like Demehin and Plumptre in peak condition for the upcoming tournament.
Oparanozie’s advocacy underscores the importance of gender equality in sports, highlighting the need for fair treatment and recognition of female athletes alongside their male counterparts.
Olaitan Ibrahim