Asisat Lamina Oshoala MON is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker. She plays for American National Women Soccer League side Bay FC and Nigeria women’s national team, the Super Falcons. She is renowned for her strength, speed, excellence in air and being ruthless in front of goal. Oshoala is a versatile forward who can play in any position in the attacking line.
Oshoala is largely observed as one of the greatest African female all-time footballers and one of the best in the world. The record six-time African female footballer of the Year is the most decorated African female footballer.
She was the first African and Nigerian player to score a goal in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Oshoala as well became the first African woman to win the UEFA Champions League when Barcelona beat Chelsea 4-0 in the 16 May 2021 finals. In August 2022, Oshoala became the first African woman to be nominated for Ballon d’Or. She is also the first African and Nigerian player to score in three consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Oshoala has a foundation in Nigeria meant for mentoring and empowering less privileged kids especially girls to pursue their dreams in life. Oshoala is also a Nike Ambassador. She is a member of FIFA’s technical advisory group on the growth and development of women’s football.
Age and Birthday
Oshoala was born on 9 October 1994 in Ikorodu, Lagos, Nigeria. She is 29 years old as of 2023. Her zodiac sign is a Libra.
Height
The African star player is approximately 1.73 meters (5 feet 8 inches) tall.
Preferred foot
Oshoala prefers using the right foot.
Asisat Oshoala Family and Religion
Asisat Oshoala Family
The famous footballer’s parents are Iya Asisa (father) and Alhaji Oshoala (mother).
She comes from a polygamous family. Her siblings are Sherifat (brother) and Abdulbasit (sister) from the same mother and four others from her step-mother.
Asisat is a mother of one daughter. We will vanished you with details about her as soon as we get them.
Asisat Oshoala Religion
Oshoala is from a Muslim family and a staunch believer in Islamic faith.
Asisat Oshoala Club Career
Early stages
While growing up, Oshoala never had any dreams to become a professional footballer. She initially played football just for the love of it. Asisat however changed her mind after realizing how good in the game she had become overtime. It was not easy though given that even her parents were not happy at first when she chose to abandon her studies to pursue her dream in football.
While growing up, Oshoala never had any dreams to become a professional footballer. She initially played football just for the love of it. Asisat however changed her mind after realizing how good in the game she had become overtime. It was not easy though given that even her parents were not happy at first when she chose to abandon her studies to pursue her dream in football.
Oshoala made her breakthrough during the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2014. Here she made a series of exceptional displays winning both the Adidas Golden Boot and Golden Ball. She also played a big role as Nigeria finished as runners-up. Oshoala was later in the year named the best player at the 2014 Women’s African Cup of Nations.
Liverpool: 2015-16
On 23 January 2015, Oshoala joined the then FA Women Super League defending champions, Liverpool. Consequently, she became the first African player to compete in the English top-flight women’s league. Her debut however was delayed for a period of two months due to injury.
She scored her maiden goal for the Reds on 1 April in a 2-1 victory against Birmingham City. Oshoala went on to score 3 goals in nine matches for the Merseyside club. Liverpool finished seventh in the WSL that season.
Arsenal: 2016-17
Oshoala signed for Arsenal in March 2016 helping them win the 2015-16 FA Women’s Cup in May 2016. The Gunners finished third in the FA WSL behind Manchester City and Chelsea.
She played 13 games and scored two goals for Arsenal during the 2016 season.
Dalian Quanjian FC: 2017-19
Oshoala switched China for England on 10 February 2017 when she signed with the Chinese club Dalian Quanjian. During her first season, Dalian won the Chinese Women’s Super League. Asisat ended the season as the league top-scorer with twelve goals and was awarded the League’s Golden Boot. The following season, she also played a massive role as the club won the league championship for the second consecutive year.
FC Barcelona: 2019-2024
On 31 January 2019, Oshoala moved to Spanish club Barcelona Femeni on loan until the end of the season. On 31 May 2019, the club made her move permanent by signing a deal until 2022.
She became the first African and Nigerian to score in a Women’s Champions League when she scored Barcelona’s only goal in a 4-1 defeat against Lyon.
On 19 September 2019, Oshoala scored her first goals for Barca, a brace against Atletico Madrid. She scored another brace against Atletico in October in a 4-0 Barcelona win. On 11 January 2020, she scored four goals in a 6-0 victory against CD Tacon. Asisat scored a total 20 goals in 19 games during 2019-20 season behind her teammate Jenni Hermoso who netted 23.
On 16 May 2021, she became the first African woman to win the UEFA Champions League.
Oshoala signed a contract extension with the Catalans on 10 March 2022 extending her stay at the club until June 2024.
While at Barca, she netted over 117 goals in 162 appearances becoming the fourth highest goalscorer in the club’s history and largely contributing to the club’s dominance in the domestic and European levels. She won a total of 14 trophies including two trebles with the Spanish giants.
Bay FC: 2024-present
On 1 February 2024, Oshoala left Barcelona for American club Bay FC for a reported fee of $162,000 and signing a two-year contract with the club. The celebrated striker scored her first goal for the San Francisco-based NWSL club on her debut appearance in a 1-0 win against Angel City.
With the experienced Oshoala leading in attack, Bay FC can be assured of large goal tally and greater achievements in the coming seasons.
Asisat Oshoala International Career
In September 2013, aged barely 19, Oshoala won her first senior cap of Nigeria in a friendly defeat against Japan.
At the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, she was named the best player and top-scorer with seven goals. At the 2014 African Women’s Championship, Asisat was also named the best player and second top-scorer as the Super Falcons won the tournament.
She was part of the Super Falcons team for 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup and as well the team that won the African Women’s Championships in 2016 and 2018.
Oshoala was the Super Falcons vice-captain at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. Her goal in their second group match win against South Korea was nominated for the Goal of the Tournament by FIFA.
On 16 June 2023, she was in the Nigeria 23-player team for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. During their second group stage match against host Australia, she came in as a substitute to scored Nigeria’s third goal of the game. This made her the first African player to score in three consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cups having previously scored in 2015 and 2019 tournaments.
Asistat Oshoala Honours
River Angels
- Nigerian Women’s Championship: 2014
- Nigerian Women’s Cup (2): 2013, 2014
Arsenal
- FA Women’s Cup: 2015-16
Dalian Quanjian FC
- Chinese Women’s Super League (2): 2017, 2018
FC Barcelona
- Primera Division (3): 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22
- UEFA Women’s Champions League (2): 2020-21, 2022-23
- Supercopa de Espana Femenina (3): 2019-20, 2021-22, 2022-23
- Copa de la Reina (3): 2019-20,2020-21, 2021-22
Nigeria
- African Women’s Championship (3): 2014, 2016, 2018
- FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup runner-up: 2014
Individual
- African Women’s Youth Player of the Year: 2014
- African Women’s Footballer of the Year (6): 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023
- Queen of the Pitch Award: 2014
- BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year: 2015
- 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 All-time Africa Women’s Dream Team: awarded 2021
- Primera Division Top-scorer: 2021-22
- IFFHS CAF Best Woman Player of the Decade: 2011-2020
- IFFHS CAF Women Team of the Decade: 2011-2020
- Eagles Tracker Nigeria Women’s Most Valuable Player of the Season (2): 2020-21, 2021-22