There’s a quiet kind of exhaustion that comes from being excellent in a world that still treats you like an afterthought. As a woman, especially a woman in sports, you learn to keep going anyway. You learn to win, loudly, in spaces that barely make room for you. And that’s exactly what African Giants, a bold new short documentary, is about.
Told through the lives of three of Nigeria’s most remarkable footballers; Michelle Alozie, Asisat Oshoala, and Rasheedat Ajibade, African Giants tells the story of the Super Falcons, not just as athletes, but as symbols of womanhood, power, and the unshakable Nigerian spirit.
Michelle Alozie is a dual-career star, balancing top-tier football with cancer research. Asisat Oshoala is a global icon and five-time African Women’s Footballer of the Year. Rasheedat Ajibade brings youth, flair, and fearless leadership to the field. Together, they are the face of a team that has won more titles than any other women’s football team in Africa.
With 11 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles, 9 FIFA World Cup appearances, and Africa’s first women’s team to reach an Olympic quarterfinal, the Super Falcons are Africa’s greatest soccer team ever. National heroes. Cultural game-changers.
And yet, they still have to fight for the basics: fair pay, media coverage, sponsorship, respect.
Let’s look at the reality:
- 88% of Nigerian sports media coverage is focused on men.
- Globally, only 7% of sports sponsorships go to female athletes.
- Women hold less than 10% of football leadership roles.
- Despite this, Nigerian women have won 35 of Nigeria’s 48 gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.
This imbalance isn’t just frustrating. It’s exhausting. As a woman, you can be the best and still be told you’re lucky just to be seen.
African Giants amplifies the pride, the joy, and the sheer brilliance of Nigerian women in sport. It shows what happens when women refuse to shrink themselves, even when the world looks the other way.
“This film was deeply inspired by my Nigerian roots,” Kimberly Ebi Mason, the director shares. “As a Nigerian, I’ve always found our people, our culture, and our stories to be beautiful, rich, and deeply powerful. It’s been a dream of mine to showcase the Nigerian spirit on a global platform.”
And in doing so, she makes one thing clear: this film isn’t just about football. It’s about equity. It’s about dignity. It’s about the freedom for Nigerian women to dream boldly and be backed fully.
“I was most committed to showing that Nigerian women deserve autonomy, support, and the freedom to chase their dreams on and off the field,” she says. “Through the story of the Super Falcons, I wanted to highlight their resilience and brilliance and how they challenge the systems that continue to limit them.”
At its heart, this film is a call to action to see, respect, and uplift our women.
The director’s hope for viewers is simple but powerful: “I hope people come away with a deeper appreciation for Nigerian culture, especially through the lens of its women. I want them to understand the unique challenges that women—particularly women athletes face in their pursuit of greatness. There’s a resilience, a fire, that burns within Nigerian women, and I hope that fire is not only seen but truly respected.”
And maybe the most urgent question of all—why now?
“Why not now?” she says. “Culturally, the world is paying attention to Nigeria, through music, fashion, film, and that’s something to celebrate. But the Super Falcons, and Nigerian women in sports more broadly, deserve to be part of that global conversation too. Their talent, grit, and impact are just as powerful, and it’s time their stories are seen, heard, and valued on the same stage. This film is a reminder that representation in culture must be holistic—not just what’s trending, but who’s truly shaping our narrative.”
African Giants is that invitation to see them fully. Not just as champions, but as changemakers. Not just as athletes, but as architects of culture and courage.
So yes, watch African Giants. Watch it for the pride it stirs in you. Watch it for the quiet fire it lights. But more than that, let it move you to action. Let it make you ask: how can we do more than just applaud? How do we invest, show up, and create real change?
Because the truth is, they’ve been winning for us. It’s time we started winning with them. Use the campaign hashtag: #GiantsTogethxr to join and amplify the conversation.
