In the realm of women’s football, few names resonate with as much reverence and awe as Asisat Oshoala.
Asisat Lamina Oshoala Born on October 9, 1994, into a Muslim family in the Ikorodu suburb of Lagos State, Oshoala initially embarked on her football journey in Mushin
After completing her secondary education in 2009, Asisat Oshoala embarked on her football career, joining FC Robo, a Nigerian Lower Division side. She spent four years with the team, honing her football skills and gaining valuable experience from 2009 to 2013.
In 2013, Oshoala made a significant move to Rivers Angels, a prominent Nigerian women’s football club, marking an important step in her professional career:
At Rivers Angels, Asisat Oshoala’s talent and dedication earned her a spot on Nigeria’s team for the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada. Her outstanding performance made her the tournament’s top scorer with seven goals, and she was awarded the Player of the Tournament award. Nigeria finished as the tournament’s runner-up, thanks in large part to Oshoala’s exceptional skills.
Her success in Canada led to recognition as the best player and second top goalscorer in the Super Falcons team that won the 2014 African Women’s Championship. Oshoala’s popularity soared, both in Nigeria and internationally, cementing her reputation as a crowd-pleasing athlete.
Oshoala’s impressive displays in Canada and Namibia caught the attention of Super Falcons coach Edwin Okon, who called her up to represent Nigeria at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada
In 2015, Oshoala made history as the first African female to play in the Women’s Super League, joining Liverpool Ladies. Her impressive debut season earned her the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award. However, a knee injury forced her to miss two months of the 2015 season.
In 2016, Arsenal activated her release clause, and she joined the club. A year later, she moved to Chinese club Dalian Quanjian, becoming the top scorer in the 2017 Superleague.
In 2019, Oshoala secured a loan deal with Barcelona Femení, making an impact with goals against Rayo and Atletico Femeni at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Oshoala made history as the first Barcelona Femení player and African player to score in a UEFA Women’s Champions League final, and the first Nigerian to score in any UEFA Champions League final.
In 2019, Barcelona announced her full transfer to the club. On May 16, 2021, Oshoala became the first African woman to win the UEFA Champions League title, playing a crucial role in Barcelona’s 4-0 victory over Chelsea.
Her success continued with a two-year contract extension on March 10, 2022, keeping her at Barcelona until June 30, 2024. Oshoala went on to secure her second UEFA Champions League title, cementing her legacy in women’s football.
In the 2024 transfer market, Asisat Oshoala made a significant move to Bay FC, a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team based in the United States.
Asisat Oshoala’s impressive career has been marked by numerous individual awards and accolades, solidifying her position as one of the greatest African female footballers of all time.
Her Awards and Accolades include:
- African Women’s Footballer of the Year (6): 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022. Making her the first African woman to have won the award 6 times in her career.
- FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Golden Boot: 2014
- UEFA Women’s Champions League Final MVP: 2020
- Primera División Golden Boot: 2020-21
- IFFHS CAF Women’s Team of the Decade: 2011-2020
In 2019, Asisat Oshoala,founded the Asisat Oshoala Foundation with a mission to create a positive impact in various areas. The foundation is dedicated to empowering young girls and promoting education, gender equality, and sports development in Nigeria and beyond. Through its work, the foundation seeks to make a lasting impact and create a brighter future for young girls and communities.
