Discover the inspiring journey of the Super Falcons' Asisat Oshoala. Explore her remarkable achievements, including being named the African Women's Footballer of the Year multiple times.
Asisat Lamina Oshoala (MON), born 9 October 1994, is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Spanish Liga F club FC Barcelona and the Nigeria women's national team.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest African female footballers of all time and one of the best in the world, she is one of the most celebrated African female footballers of all time, and she won African Women's Footballer of the Year a record five times.
Oshoala is a prominent figure in the world of women's football, known for her exceptional skills and contributions to the sport.
Asisat Oshoala Early Life
Asisat Lamina Oshoala – her full name – exemplifies the determination of a resilient individual who defied all odds to turn her dreams into reality. Despite encountering numerous challenges, her unwavering zeal and innate talent gave her extraordinary opportunities to pursue her aspirations.
Without a real reference point to follow, she wholeheartedly focused on football and left home at an early age in pursuit of her dreams.
The 29 year old Asisiat Oshoala was born on October 9, 1994, in Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria.
Born into a Muslim family in the Ikorodu suburb of Lagos State, Oshoala initially embarked on her football journey in Mushin, a decision that defied her parents' wishes. Nevertheless, she remained steadfast in her pursuit of a football career.
Considering her remarkable accomplishments in the realm of football, it is evident that the parents who initially discouraged Oshoala would now take immense pride in their role as the parents of a football star.
Oshoala received her primary education at Air Force Primary School in Victoria Island before transitioning to Aunty Ayo International School in Ikoyi, where she completed her secondary education in 2009.
Immediately following her secondary education, Oshoala commenced her career at the Nigerian Lower Division side FC Robo, where she remained from 2009 to 2013 before moving on to join Rivers Angels.
Asisat Oshoala Career
At Rivers Angels, Asisat gained prominence when she represented Nigeria in the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup held in Canada. She emerged as the tournament's top scorer with seven goals and was rightfully bestowed the Player of the Tournament award. Her exceptional performances significantly contributed to Nigeria finishing as the tournament's runner-up.
Following her exceptional display in Canada, Oshoala was recognised as the best player and second top goalscorer in the Super Falcons team, which emerged victorious in the 2014 African Women's Championship. Oshoala's popularity soared in Nigeria and abroad, solidifying her reputation as a crowd-pleasing athlete.
Oshoala's noteworthy performances in Canada and Namibia did not go unnoticed. Edwin Okon, the coach of the Super Falcons at the time, called her up to represent Nigeria once again at the FIFA Women's World Cup, held in Canada.
Canada seemed to be Asisat's stage, as she showcased her skills and scored Nigeria's second goal in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Sweden. Unfortunately for her, the Super Falcons were unable to progress beyond the first round.
Subsequently, in January 2015, Oshoala made history by becoming the first African female to play in the Women's Super League, joining the Liverpool Ladies. Her impressive debut season led to her winning the prestigious BBC Women's Footballer of the Year award in 2015.
However, a knee injury forced Oshoala to miss two months of the 2015 season, during which Liverpool finished seventh out of eight teams after having clinched the league title the previous season.
In 2016, Arsenal activated Oshoala's release clause at Liverpool, and she joined the female team of the renowned North London club. A year later, in 2017, she made an official move to Chinese club Dalian Quanjian, where she emerged as the top scorer in the 2017 Superleague.
In 2019, after an impressive spell in China, Oshoala secured a loan deal with Spanish club Barcelona Femenà until the end of the season. She made an impact by scoring her first league goal against Rayo and, a few weeks later, scoring in a record-breaking match against Atletico Femeni at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Notably, Oshoala became the first-ever Barcelona Femenà 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, regardless of gender. Later in 2019, Barcelona announced that she had signed a full transfer to the club
Asisat Oshoala made history as the first Super Falcons player to score in three consecutive World Cups after netting in the side’s 3-2 victory against Republic of Ireland on Thursday, 27th July, 2023.
Asisat Oshoala Daughter
As evident from available information, the five-time African Footballer of the Year experienced the challenges of early motherhood before pursuing a football career.
Upon the athlete's public introduction of her first daughter on social media, the general public was surprised to discover the news.
Asisat Oshoala Dating Life
Oshoala has chosen to keep her dating life private and has not shared any information about her current relationship status with the media.
However, there have been rumours circulating in the past regarding a boyfriend. It was speculated that she was in a relationship with Abu Azeez, a well-known Nigerian beach soccer player.
According to some sources, they were even planning to get married in 2017. Reports suggested they had a pre-wedding photoshoot, where a picture of them holding hands surfaced. However, she has never officially confirmed these rumours.
Despite social media posts inviting her family to her wedding ceremony, it appears that the wedding did not take place. Oshoala has maintained her privacy regarding her personal life, and any details or speculations surrounding her relationships should be taken with caution.
Asisat Oshoala Net Worth
Oshoala has established herself as one of the most talented female footballers in Nigeria and the wealthiest. With an estimated net worth of approximately ₦39.3 million ($3 million), her financial success is a testament to her enduring career that has spanned over a decade.
Oshoala's impressive earnings are not solely derived from her professional achievements on the field but also from lucrative endorsement deals with renowned brands. These partnerships have further bolstered her financial standing and solidified her status as a prominent figure in the world of women's football in Nigeria.
Asisat Oshoala Salary
Oshoala's salary at Barcelona has not been publicly disclosed, making it difficult to provide an exact figure.
However, there have been speculations regarding her earnings, with estimates suggesting that she earns approximately £10,500 per week. This would amount to a monthly salary of around £40,000.
It is important to note that these figures are unofficial and subject to change, as they are based on speculation rather than official statements or reports.
Asisat Oshoala Car
It was reported that the Super Eagles and Barcelona star invested a significant amount of N 11,993,543 to acquire a Mercedes Benz CLA 250 car.
This acquisition reflects Oshoala's success and financial stability, allowing her to indulge in high-end vehicles that align with her lifestyle and personal preferences.
The Mercedes Benz CLA 250 is renowned for its elegance, performance, and advanced features.
Asisat Oshoala Foundation
In 2019, the Super Falcons forward established the Asisat Oshoala Foundation.
The foundation aims to make a positive impact in various areas, particularly in empowering young girls and promoting education, gender equality, and sports development in Nigeria and beyond.
Through its initiatives, the foundation seeks to create opportunities for underprivileged children, especially girls, to fulfill their potential and pursue their dreams.
Asisat Oshoala Awards & Achievements
- Nigeria
- African Women's Championship (4 times): 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019
- FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Runner-up: 2014
- Club
- Rivers Angels
- Nigerian Women's Championship: 2014
- Nigerian Women's Cup: 2013, 2014
- Arsenal
- FA Women's Cup: 2015–16
- Dalian Quanjian F.C.
- Chinese Women's Super League (1): 2017, 2018
- FC Barcelona
- Primera División: 2019-20, 2020–21, 2021–22
- UEFA Women's Champions League: 2020–21, 2022–23
- Supercopa de España Femenina: 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23
- Copa de la Reina: 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22
- Individual
- Aiteo CAF Best Player Award 2017(Female Category)
- BBC Women's Footballer of the Year: 2015
- Queen of The Pitch Award: 2014
- African Women's Footballer of the Year: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019
- African Women's Youth Player of the Year: 2014
- African Women's Championship Golden Ball: 2014
- African Women's Championship Golden Boot: 2016
- FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Golden Boot: 2014
- FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Golden Ball: 2014
- Chinese Women's Super League Top scorer: 2017
- IFFHS CAF Best Woman Player of the Decade 2011–2020
- IFFHS All-time Africa Women's Dream Team: awarded 2021
- IFFHS CAF Woman Team of the Decade 2011–2020
- EaglesTracker Nigeria Women's Most Valuable Player of the Season: 2020–21, 2021-22
Fantastic
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