Ihezuo rising, Oshoala in the shadows — Are the Super Falcons in safe hands?

I watched Chinwendu Ihezuo bulldoze her way through two Zambian defenders like they were traffic cones. And in that moment—when she buried Nigeria’s third goal with such grit—I couldn’t help but smile.

She didn’t just score a goal. She made a statement.

This wasn’t the same Ihezuo we saw a while back trying to find her place. This was a striker with purpose. With power. With poise. And now, with three goals in the tournament, she’s quietly climbing toward something special.

When asked about her target for this competition, her response was as simple as it was powerful:

“It’s to keep scoring. Don’t give up.”

Chinwendu Ihezuo @Chinweihezuo1 : “My morale high as I score”.

3 goals in 4 games for the Super Falcons at the #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2024 — Ihezuo is on fire and flying with confidence. pic.twitter.com/x4oo7mukwR

— Dr. Victor Ademola (@AdemolaVictorTv) July 19, 2025

There’s something refreshingly pure about that statement. No fuss. No ego. Just a commitment to contribute more to the team.

Meanwhile, as the “main character” role starts to shift from familiar names to fresh faces, it brings us to a deeper conversation—about change, and what it means to evolve.

Oshoala in the Shadows

Asisat Oshoala has been the face of Nigerian women’s football for a decade. From the U17s to Barcelona, to now with Bay FC, she’s been the fire in our forward line, the name that struck fear into opponents.

But in Morocco this year, something's different.

She’s not the first name on the team sheet anymore. She’s coming off the bench. She’s not sprinting past defenders like she once did—and that’s okay.

Prominent journalist Fisayo Shoyombo, via his X (formerly Twitter) platform, said it best:

“From U17 to the Super Falcons, there was a time when Oshoala nearly carried the entire team on her back… Of course, she's not the same anymore, and that's no big deal. Age catches up with us all.”

He’s right. Oshoala’s value now goes beyond minutes on the pitch. She’s present. She’s poised. She’s experienced in the dressing room.

And if Coach Justin Madugu sees her as a vital voice among the squad—even as a super sub—then maybe we all should, too.

What’s troubling is the chatter, the campaign to “move on” from her, as if legends are meant to be discarded instead of celebrated.

Oshoala has nothing to prove. She’s earned the right to exit on her own terms, and if she chooses to stay and support this team—without causing disharmony—we owe her that respect.

Super Falcons: A New Era, But Familiar Fire

With Ihezuo finding form, Okoronkwo finishing with confidence, and Ijamilusi announcing herself with a bold statement against Zambia, the future of the Super Falcons feels exciting.

But exciting doesn’t have to mean erasing the past.

Being a journalist, and a fan of the Falcons, it feels like the baton is being passed—not yanked—from one generation to the next. And frankly, that’s how it should be.

So yes, the Super Falcons are in safe hands.

Because the fire that once burned in Oshoala is now lighting the path for a new generation. And that, perhaps, is her greatest goal yet.