8 Things to Know About Asisat Oshoala
This season, the NWSL has witnessed many great and unexpected transfers. One international player who joined the NWSL this year, whom we should be keeping an eye on, is Asisat Oshoala. Now part of Bay FC, the Nigerian forward has many eyes set on her because no one can deny her talent. To help you get to know Oshoala better, here are eight things you should know about her.
1. She Didn’t Plan to Become A Professional Soccer Player
While Oshoala’s numbers speak of her talent, the Nigerian forward didn’t initially intend to play soccer professionally. “I had other things in mind. I wanted to be a lawyer, and then at some point, I changed my mind because I realized I was good at playing soccer,” she told FIFA’s Icons series.
2. Oshoala’s Parents Didn’t Want Her To Play
Coming from Africa and being Nigerian makes Oshoala’s journey much more inspiring. In a country where women can’t play soccer easily, Oshoala faced obstacles to playing. Her parents didn’t want her to play soccer or any sports for that matter. At that time, they believed playing soccer would distract her from school and studying. Despite her parents not supporting her then, Oshoala had her grandmother’s support.
Even with the obstacles, Oshoala didn’t give up on her dream. On Sundays, she would go and play soccer at a stadium without her parents’ knowledge. Oshoala was so good at playing that the male team she played with told her about a female team that existed then. Before learning that, Oshoala didn’t know that there was a women’s soccer team near her.
That team is FC Robo, and still today, Oshoala talks about the huge impact her coach and the team left on her. Emmanuel Osahon, FC Robo’s coach, convinced Oshoala’s parents to let her play. Then things changed for the Nigerian player later on. The amazing performance Oshoala had at the 2014 U-20 Women’s World Cup changed everything. It made her father tell her he didn’t want to stop her dream. This was when Oshoala’s father told her, “You have my support.”
3. Oshoala Played For Liverpool and Arsenal
When Oshoala’s name is mentioned, people immediately think of her time at FC Barcelona. Many people don’t know that Oshoala played for Liverpool and then Arsenal before she was part of the Spanish team. She joined Liverpool in 2015 and scored three goals in nine games. She later joined Arsenal in 2016 and scored two goals in the 13 appearances she made.
4. Her Next Move was To China
After Oshoala’s time at Arsenal, she wasn’t satisfied. Feeling like she lost her confidence after a slow start at the English club, Oshoala chose to move to China. She joined the Chinese club Dalian WFC and had a great run with them.
“The money was so good. It was more than ten times what I had when I was at Arsenal. But then I also needed a place where I could build my confidence again because I think I almost lost it at Arsenal. I wasn’t playing so much as I actually wanted to play, and then I had the opportunity to go to China,” Oshoala explained her decision in an interview with The Athletic.
“China was like a blessing for me. I keep saying it every day. I left Arsenal for China, I knew what I wanted then. I needed a coach and an organization who believed in me, and that could actually give me that confidence, and China gave it to me,” she said. In China, Oshoala realized she made the right decision. She got her confidence back, and then she made the move to FC Barcelona.
5. People Call Oshoala the Greatest African Player
Many call Asisat Oshoala the greatest African and Nigerian player. In 2014, she was named Player of the Tournament at the U-20 Women’s World Cup. She was also awarded the 2014 African Women’s Championship award. 2015, she was also named the BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Yea,r and her time with Liverpool made her the first African player to play in the Women’s Super League.
The Nigerian player’s achievements started at a young age. As she grew older, Oshoala kept winning more awards and titles. She became the first Nigerian player to score in three consecutive Women’s World Cups. Last year, she was named the African Women’s Player of the Year. With this last title, Oshoala has won it six times. She brought even more success to Africa when she became the first African female player nominated for the Ballon d’Or.
6. Oshoala Did Everything With Barcelona
Before joining Bay FC, Oshoala had an amazing career with FC Barcelona. From scoring goals and assisting to winning titles, Oshoala did it all. In more than 160 games for Barcelona, Oshoala found the net 117 times. With FC Barcelona, the Nigerian player won the league and the Spanish Super Cup four times. She also won the Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey) twice and the UEFA Women’s Champions League two times.
7. Oshoala Always Tries to Help African Girls
Being the first African player to do so many things and gain this level of popularity put a spotlight on Oshoala. Young African girls looked up to her and started believing that they could play soccer professionally. So, Oshoala became a role model for many African girls, and she realized that. In 2015, Oshoala started the Asisat Oshoala Foundation in Nigeria.
The foundation aims to help girls compete in soccer by providing them with a safe space to play. The foundation encourages a balance between education and sports; Oshoala wants to prove that young female players can have both.
8. She Established Her Own Academy
In 2022, Oshoala took a step further in her attempts to help young girls in Africa. She established her own academy titled the Asisat Oshoala Academy. Oshoala’s foundation is responsible for the day-to-day management of the academy. The all-girls training platform is also in partnership with Women Win and Nike.
“The Asisat Oshoala Academy (AOA) is designed to provide access to football and lifeskills for marginalized schoolgirls in Nigeria and the rest of the African continent,” states the academy’s official website. Oshoala’s academy offers girls aged 12 to 18 years old the chance to play soccer and have professional training.
Featured image via Getty Images
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