Desire Oparanozie Praises Infantino's Impact on Women's Football During Decade at FIFA Helm

Former Super Falcons striker Desire Oparanozie has lauded the remarkable progress of women's football during Gianni Infantino's ten-year tenure as FIFA President, describing the transformation as "tremendous."

The 32-year-old, who retired from professional football two years ago, brings considerable authority to her assessment. A four-time Women's Africa Cup of Nations champion with Nigeria, Oparanozie represented the Super Falcons at four FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments between 2011 and 2023, establishing herself as one of the country's most decorated players.

"The FIFA President is no doubt on the right path to grow and improve women's football," Oparanozie stated. "Since coming on board, the evolution of women's football from 2016 to today has been marked by rapid growth and professionalization under Gianni Infantino."

The expansion of the Women's World Cup stands as perhaps the most visible symbol of this growth. The tournament has grown from 24 teams in 2019 to 32 in 2023, with plans for 48 teams by 2031. For African football specifically, this expansion has proved transformative—representation doubled from two teams to four at the 2023 edition held in Australia and New Zealand.

"Having two African teams at the finals to four at the last edition in 2023 is a significant step forward for women's football on the continent," Oparanozie explained. "This excites me personally because it gives Africa more slot on the world stage. More teams mean more opportunities for players, coaches, and federations to develop, invest, and compete at the highest level."

The 2023 World Cup marked a watershed moment when three African sides—including Nigeria—reached the knockout stage, signalling that the traditional gap between established powers and emerging nations is steadily closing.

Perhaps equally significant was FIFA's introduction of direct player payments at the 2023 tournament—a historic first that Oparanozie, as a beneficiary, described as "groundbreaking."

"For the first time FIFA directly paid players, rather than channeling prize money solely through federations, aiming to ensure athletes receive fair compensation for their efforts," she noted. "It guaranteed every participating player a minimum of $30,000 USD and a maximum of $270,000 each for members of the champion squad. In all four World Cups I've played, the 2023 one was a reward for years of hard work for African players, especially Nigerian players."

The inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup, which kicked off recently, represents another milestone in Infantino's efforts to globalise the women's game at club level. The tournament brings together champions from all six continental confederations, with Moroccan side AS FAR flying the African flag and finishing fourth in the first edition.

Oparanozie, whose club career spanned China, France, Germany, Russia, and Turkey, believes the Champions Cup provides invaluable exposure for players who might not reach the World Cup with their national teams.

"Having top clubs from each confederation creates a global stage that showcases talent, boosts media visibility, and attracts investment into the women's game," she said.

The FIFA Players Impact initiative has also garnered praise from the retired forward, who views it as crucial support for players transitioning into retirement.

"It is a great initiative by FIFA helping ex-players to have smooth transitioning from active playing into retirement, by providing a platform for involvement," Oparanozie remarked. "Together, these areas create a sustainable ecosystem."

Reflecting on her own career highlights, Oparanozie counts her four World Cup appearances among her proudest achievements, alongside her four African championship titles. Only Onome Ebi, with six World Cup appearances, has represented Nigeria at more global tournaments.

Since retiring, Oparanozie has remained deeply involved in football through the Desire Oparanozie Foundation, which organises grassroots programmes, mentorship initiatives, and talent identification in her community. She also coaches Pam FC, a lower-division men's team, bringing her wealth of experience to nurture the next generation.

"By creating opportunities for them to play and compete, I hope to inspire the next generation of female footballers to dream big and pursue their goals relentlessly," she concluded.