Oshoala: Falcons’ attackers can be as good as Madrid’s BBC

Super Falcons forward, Asisat Oshoala, expects the team’s attacking trio of herself, Desire Oparanozie and Ngozi Okobi to combine well like the Real Madrid’s BBC – Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, and Cristiano Ronaldo – and fire Nigeria to victory against USA.

Falcons need a win against the Americans in their last group game in Vancouver to book a ticket to the Round of 16 – something Nigeria have only done once before, at USA 1999.

But Oshoala believes she and her team-mates have what it takes to reach the knockout stage while hoping to emulate the style of Real’s attacking trio.

“I want us to play like Real Madrid’s forwards!” Oshoala told FIFA.com.

“They’re very, very good, Benzema, Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

“We can be similar to them and I’d like us to play just like them as much as possible. As a front three we can be very dangerous and if we try to be like them, we’ll go very far in this tournament!”

The tournament has presented a new experience to the Adidas Golden Ball and the Golden Boot winner at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014.

The BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year Award has been finding it difficult to enjoy herself during her first Women’s World Cup so far.

But that is not to say Canada 2015 has yet to be a worthwhile experience for the young starlet, though.

“I have learned a lot of things about myself as a player,” Oshoala said.

“This is a big tournament with much stronger competition. When you play at the under-age tournament, and then you come to the senior World Cup, you see it’s much harder. So, you just have to adapt to it.

“My style of play can’t always be the same. I need to find different ways to change my attacking patterns so I can get behind the backline.”

After a wildly entertaining 3-3 draw with Sweden where Oshoala scored Nigeria’s second, the Liverpool Ladies forward found herself frustrated against Australia.

“I would say Sweden actually made it very hard for us,” she said.

“Australia I think were an easier opponent. We were unlucky not to get the goals we needed. But it doesn’t matter; we have to be better, no matter what.”