![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/07xKnFVv2KFRNSqmlfKnTeU1NxI=\/750x500\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2026%2F05%2Fimago1068593601.jpg\")
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Asisat Oshoala, Deborah Ajibola Abiodun, Taiwo Tewogbola Afolabi and Folashade Florence Ijamilusi of Super Falcons. Copyright: xShengolpixsxImago<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Former Super Falcons captain Desire Oparanozie has opened up on the challenges\u00a0that comes with\u00a0wearing the captain\u2019s armband for the national team,\u00a0Soccernet.ng<\/u><\/a>\u00a0reports.<\/strong><\/p>\n Oparanozie made her senior debut for the Super Falcons in 2010 after rising through Nigeria\u2019s U20 setup, where she impressed at the 2010 and 2012 editions of the FIFA U20 Women\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n The former Wolfsburg forward was named captain in 2019 after she was handed the role by former head coach Thomas Dennerby.\u00a0During her time with the national team, she won four Women\u2019s Africa Cup of Nations titles\u00a0and\u00a0finished as the top scorer at the 2014 edition. She also\u00a0represented Nigeria at four\u00a0editions of the\u00a0FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup\u00a0tournament.<\/p>\n Oparanozie\u00a0featured at the 2023 FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup, which turned out to be her final tournament before retirement, as Nigeria\u00a0exited the competition in the Round of 16 after losing to England on penalties.<\/p>\n Since her retirement, the Super Falcons have added another WAFCON title to their collection and are now preparing for the 2026 Women\u2019s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco,\u00a0where they will face Zambia, Malawi<\/u>\u00a0a<\/u>nd Egypt in Group C.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n Following Nigeria\u2019s exit from the 2019 FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup after a 3-0 defeat to Germany, Oparanozie led calls for equal pay and improved treatment for the women\u2019s national team,\u00a0especially\u00a0regarding the disparity in bonuses between the\u00a0men\u2019s and women\u2019s teams.<\/p>\n However, she was eventually stripped of captaincy before she made her return to the team ahead of the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n Speaking on\u00a0T<\/strong>he 5th House Podcast<\/strong>,\u00a0Oparanozie explained how different captaining the Super Falcons was compared to leading club sides abroad.<\/p>\n \u201cOn the other side, I captained a team abroad and nobody tells you what to do. You don\u2019t have to break a sweat telling people what to do because everybody knows what to do and when to get them done. Your own as a captain is just to lead your team on the field of play and make sure everybody is in a good frame of mind to deliver and give 100%\u201d,\u00a0the former Nigerian captain said.<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cBut when you\u2019re representing Nigeria, it\u2019s a whole lot of things\u00a0\u2014\u00a0going to training we\u2019re not in uniformity. Some players are wearing green socks and some are wearing a different colour.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cIt affects us mentally and it has always been the problem. If it\u2019s not the problem of equipment, it\u2019s the problem of bonus and that has always been there. It has a psychological effect on players\u2019\u00a0performance no doubt.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n Oparanozie also revealed how divisions within the squad sometimes complicated efforts to push for better conditions for the players.<\/p>\n \u201cThe camp usually brings a combination of unity, tension and division. Some players stand for what is right and want what is right to be done. Some other players want favour from the\u00a0\u2018powers\u2019\u00a0that be.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cWhen we agree to do some things as a team, some players will go behind our back to let them know what we\u2019re planning\u201d, the former Wolfsburg forward continued.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n The Super Falcons will now turn their attention to\u00a0the rescheduled 2026 Women\u2019s African Cup of Nations in Morocco, which will hold between July 25 and August 16.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/WhC0lV91_2L2Iiexdk1lGdEzbeo=\/1024x723\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2025%2F07%2Fimago1032977652.jpg\")
Soccer Desire\u00a0Oparanozie speaks on difficulties of captaining\u00a0Super Falcons<\/h2>\n
![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/PRLIbxNwrWYLCejNsEx952cIc3c=\/1024x683\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2025%2F07%2Fimago1032974495.jpg\")
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![\"Soccer](\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/7bvQV943tQ5xZ8R--5TEzM7aVwM=\/1024x576\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2025%2F07%2FGw3p2ZvXkAEjR4d.jpeg\")
Ayomide Oguntimehin” src=”https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/thumbor\/ycGEJDr9VZlpO_5zujn3ZdvICxA=\/150×150\/smart\/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.soccernet.ng%2Fmain%2F2024%2F12%2FAyomide-Oguntimehin-pics.jpg” height=”80″ width=”80″>\t\t<\/p>\n