England vs Nigeria: Asisat Oshoala benched for Super Falcons R16 battle

Nigeria Super Falcons will face European champions England without star player Asisat Oshoala in the starting team. 

The Super Falcons go head-to-head with England in what is a highly anticipated FIFAWWC round of 16 clash on Monday morning. 

Nigeria and England will face off at the Brisbane Stadium with both teams looking to qualify for the quarterfinal. 

Ahead of the decisive clash, the coach of Nigeria’s Super Falcons, Randy Waldrum, has made an interesting big call. 

Waldrum has released his team news for the game against the European champions with talismanic star Oshoala’s name conspicuously missing.

The Barcelona forward starts on the bench against the Lionesses as Waldrum made just a single change with Ifeoma Onumonu coming in for the multiple African Player of the Year. 

The 28-year-old has had an interesting FIFAWWC so far in Australia. She started quietly in a goalless draw against Olympic champions Canada.

A knock saw her drop to the bench against co-hosts, Australia, before she came on to inspire the Super Falcons to a stunning 3-2 win by scoring the winning goal.

The former Arsenal star returned to the starting team against Ireland but failed to repay the faith as she missed two of Nigeria’s best chances against the Green Girls.

With European champions next, coach Waldrum has now dropped the two-time Champions League winner in favour of Onumonu, who replaced her against the Irish and looked more composed on the ball as the Falcons held off the Europeans.

This time though, Oshoala is fit and the decision to leave her out of the starting team could be more tactical from coach Waldrum, who says his team is not done yet as they tackle European champions, England.