Why Asisat Oshoala Is Africa’s Most Influential Footballer of the Decade

In Summary

• Asisat Oshoala broke cultural and gender barriers from her early days in Lagos to become a six-time African Women’s Footballer of the Year.
• From Liverpool to Barcelona and now Al Hilal, Oshoala’s record-breaking career has inspired millions, with over 100 club goals and multiple league titles across continents.
• Through her foundation and advocacy, she continues empowering young African girls in education and sports, cementing her legacy as Africa’s most influential footballer of the decade.

Deep Dive!!

Lagos, Nigeria, Saturday, October 25th— Asisat Oshoala’s journey in the beautiful game of football is one worthy of admiration. Her career stands as a testament to resilience, talent, and boundary-breaking ambition. 

Asisat's success wasn't a coincidence. It was the outcome of unrelenting effort, unwavering faith, and an unafraid approach to pushing boundaries. She became one of the most renowned players on the continent, a trailblazer, and the face of African women's football.

She was born in a culture that prevented girls from playing football, yet she broke all the stereotypes. Asisat Oshoala continues to motivate a generation that will not accept anything less as she shines in Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal today.

In this article, we break down Asisat Oshoala’s journey from her humble beginnings, leading up to being worthy to be referred to as Africa’s most influential footballer of the decade.

Early Life and Formative Years

As the youngest of several siblings, Asisat Lamina Oshoala was raised in a modest Muslim family in the Lagos suburb of Ikorodu. She disregarded social conventions that banned girls from participating in sports from an early age, developing her abilities on dusty street fields where she was known as the "Agba Baller" (which translates to "senior baller" or "legendary footballer" in Yoruba). 

She balanced her love of football with her schooling by attending Aunty Ayo International School in Ikoyi, Lagos, and Air Force Primary School in Victoria Island. She started her organised career at the age of 15 with local side FC Robo in the Nigerian Women’s Football League (2009–2013), before joining Rivers Angels (2013–2015), where she made six appearances without scoring but helped win the 2014 Nigerian Women’s Championship.

Her foundation was laid by these early encounters, which exposed her to the difficulties of gender discrimination in African sports, such as cultural prejudices and a lack of resources.

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International Breakthrough and Youth Success

From 2010 to 2014, Oshoala made her debut for her country as a member of the Nigerian U-20 squad (Falconets), scoring seven goals in 11 games. She led Nigeria to a silver medal in the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Canada, where she had an outstanding performance and won the Golden Ball (best player) and Golden Boot (highest scorer with seven goals).

After making the switch to the senior Super Falcons in September 2013, with her debut match being against Japan, she immediately established herself as a vital member. She contributed to three African Women's Championship wins (2014, 2016, and 2018) with 61 caps and 37 goals by October 2025.

Highlights include being nominated for Goal of the Tournament in 2019 and scoring in three straight FIFA Women's World Cups (2015, 2019, 2023), a first for an African athlete. In 2024, she represented Nigeria at the Olympics and was named in the squad for the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, as well as the 2025 edition (Group B: Tunisia, Botswana, Algeria).

Asisat Oshoala’s Club Career Highlight

Europe (2015–2017)

Asisat Oshoala wrote her name in the history books as she became the first African woman to sign with a top English club. She joined the Liverpool Ladies from 2015 to 2016, where she scored three goals in nine games. The club’s manager at the time, Matt Beard, named her "one of the best young players in the world".

From there, she moved to Arsenal, another top English club, where she played 11 games and scored just two goals. At Arsenal, she won the FA Women’s Cup in 2016.

During this time, there were injuries and difficulties adjusting, but she pushed for improved assistance for players from other countries.

China (2017–2019)

She scored 23 goals in 20 games while playing for Dalian Quanjian, who won the 2017 Chinese FA Women's Super Cup and two Chinese Women's Super League titles in 2017 and 2018. She was awarded the league's Golden Boot award for most goals scored.

Spain (2019–2024)

Asisat Oshoala’s stint in Spain was the most noteworthy of her career. Her loan at FC Barcelona Femení became permanent due to her impact. She won the league title three times (2021, 2023, 2024), six Primera División crowns, two Pichichi Trophies (best scorer, 2019–20, 2020–21), and became the first African woman to score in a UEFA Women’s Champions League final (2021). She was the first African to receive a nomination for the Ballon d'Or Féminin in 2022.

Oshoala made 162 games and scored 117 goals during her tenure with Barcelona, ranking fourth in the team's history. She also won 14 trophies, including two trebles. She won the team's quadruple and participated in every competition of Barcelona's 2023–24 season before departing at the end of January.

United States (2024–2025)

She joined Bay FC in February 2024 and appeared in 31 games, scoring eight goals (seven in 2024 and none in the 12 games in 2025), including the team's first goal. Prior to her departure, she had a few appearances in 2025 as the squad struggled, finishing in 11th place with four wins in 17 games.

Saudi Arabia (2025–Present)

Oshoala has already caused a stir since signing a two-year contract with Al Hilal on September 2, 2025, following a physical in Riyadh. She won September's Player of the Month award after recording three goals and two assists in her first three games. A late victory in a 3-2 thriller versus Al-Ittihad is one of their noteworthy performances.

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Asisat Oshoala’s Awards and Honours

• Individual Awards: Six African Women's Footballer of the Year (2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023, a record); BBC Women's Footballer of the Year (2015); IFFHS Best Woman Player (CAF) of the Decade 2011–2020; Saudi Women's Premier League Player of the Month (September 2025).
• Club Honours: Multiple league titles across England, China, Spain, and now aiming for Saudi success; three UEFA Women's Champions Leagues.
• International Honours: Three African Women's Championships; FIFA U-20 World Cup silver (2014).

Off-Field Influence: Philanthropy and Advocacy

Beyond the field, Oshoala established the Asisat Oshoala Foundation in 2017 (officially established in 2019) to support girls in Nigeria via education and athletics. The foundation offers clinics and scholarships to more than 500 recipients. Her efforts to close the gender gap, roughly 30% of African girls finish secondary school, according to UNESCO, have been bolstered by partnerships with Nike, the FIFA Foundation, and UN Women. 

She has given TEDx talks on breaking boundaries in African football in 2020 and at UN meetings on women's empowerment. She has an impact on equality in sports and mental health as a FIFA technical advisor and Nike ambassador (designated in 2021). A 2023 African Union report attributes a 25% increase in female youth football involvement to role models like her.

Asisat Oshoala has impacted the game of football greatly. At 31, eyes the 2027 World Cup and Saudi league glory. With her previous achievements and how far she has come, her fans and supporters expect nothing short of excellence from her in the coming years.

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