Is Asisat Oshoala Nigeria’s Best Ever Female Footballer?

By Ekene Dike

So many talented female footballers have been produced by the Nigerian female national team. These have individually and collectively contributed to make the Super Falcons one of the best teams in African female football.

However, one player has certainly been ahead of the pack in recent years for the Super Falcons.

Asisat Oshoala currently plies her trade for FC Barcelona Femeni in Spain. She is regarded as one of the best female footballers from Africa.

The pacy forward represented Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup where she won the Golden Boot and was also named as the most valuable player of the competition.

She also extended her scintillating displays to the 2014 African Women’s Championship where she unsurprisingly emerged as the best player of the competition. The shining star has produced a couple of outstanding performances for both club and country.

STYLE OF PLAY: She is fast, skillful, energetic, witty, far-sighted, dogged and creative with the ball. Super Zee as she is often called, is deadly in attack and also comes back to support the defense in conjunction with fantastic wing play.

She can also play as a central, striker, false 9 and attacking midfielder. She mostly operates from the wing.

RISE TO PROMINENCE: Super Zee attained World football’s recognition after her superlative performances at the FIFA U-20 WORLD CUP IN 2014. Despite Nigeria’s failure to win the trophy, she was sensational for the Super Falcons en route their journey to the Final which they lost to Germany.

The game plan was built around her. She amazingly scored seven goals in the competition. Prior to the World Cup, she played for the Nigerian youth teams before making her eventual debut for the National team.

She has played for the Liverpool ladies team, Arsenal ladies team, Dalian Quanjian F.C. in the Chinese Women Super League before moving to Fc Barcelona Femeni on 31 January, 2019 on loan. She signed fully with the Spanish giants on 21 May, 2019.

LIFE OUTSIDE FOOTBALL: She is the pioneer of Asisat Oshoala Foundation. The aim is to empower the girl child through education and sports among Nigerian female footballers. The just concluded Asisat Oshoala Football Camp was a huge success. The good decision to set up the foundation is a way of helping female footballers to achieve their dreams.

The 25-year-old has achieved so much for herself in her football career and eventually more feathers will be added to her hat.

Some of her honors and trophies include:

•African Women’s Championship (2014,2016, 2018)

•Chinese Women Super League (2017)

•BBC Women’s Footballer Of the Year (2015)

•African Women’s Footballer Of the Year (2014,2016,2017)

•FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Golden ball (2014)

•FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Golden boot(2014)

•Chinese Women’s Super League Top Scorer (2017)

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