Nigerian star Asisat Oshoala and South Africa women national team coach Desiree Ellis have been named on the FIFA technical advisory group.
The forum was created by the world football governing body, hoping to address the progression of the women’s game and the African duo has joined the likes of Kelly Smith, Mark Parsons and Jorge Vilda.
Oshoala plays as a striker for both Spanish champions Barcelona Femeni and captains Nigeria’s Super Falcons, while Ellis captained South Africa’s Banyana Banyana and he is now the head coach.
The FIFA explained that the technical advisory group will be headed by two-time Women’s World Cup-winning coach Jill Ellis in the following statement.
“Competitive balance, increased opportunities for underserved nations, a FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, increased visibility and participation, FIFA international windows, prize money and the possibility of staging a biennial FIFA Women’s World Cup are some of the topics included in the discussions held by the FIFA Technical Advisory Group (TAG) led by Jill Ellis,” a statement from FIFA website read.
“As part of a wider comprehensive consultation process, FIFA is also meeting with other women’s football stakeholders including the member associations, confederations, clubs, leagues and teams.
“The TAG, which comprises players, coaches, referees, administrators, sports scientists and executives, features representation from each of the six continental confederations, held its second meeting on Friday, 15 October.”
Oshoala is a four-time CAF African Women’s Footballer of the Year winner, and was named BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2015 and she is regarded by some as one of the greatest African Female footballers of her era and of all time.
While Ellis was awarded CAF Women’s Coach of the Year in 2018 after her team finished second place in the African Women Cup of Nations and qualifying for the Women’s World Cup for the first time.
