Asisat Lamina Oshoala, Liverpool Ladies and Super Falcons’ forward as well as the reigning African women footballer of the year, has been named BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award.
The former Rivers Angels goal poacher won the best player and highest goal scorer at the 2014 Fifa U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Also, at the 2014 African Women’s Championship the Ikorodu-born striker scooped the best player and second top goalscorer award with the Super Falcons at the 2014 African Women’s Championship.
In a bit to fulfil her dreams, Oshoala dropped out of school to pursue a football career, a move her parents frowned at but she has now have shown the world the budge of talents that have won her many accolades.
The prolific Oshoala started her football career at age 14 in 2009 with FC Robo, where she spent four years. She moved to Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt in 2013 where she earned her first call up to the national team.
She found success at the Nigeria’s youth teams but made most of her early appearances for the senior national team as an attacking midfielder.
Nicknamed “Seedorf” after Dutch male footballer Clarence Seedorf, Oshoala was honoured by President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan in September 2014 with the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) national award.
On 23 January 2015, Oshoala moved to London where she joined Liverpool Ladies.
Just recently, the Nigeria and Liverpool forward scooped the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award.
The 20-year-old forward became the first player to win the illustrious award from the BBC World Service, voted for by football fans around the world.
She beat Spain’s Veronica Boquete, German Nadine Kessler, Scot Kim Little and veteran Brazilian Marta to clinch the honour.
“I would like to say thank you to the BBC, to my fans around the world and to everyone who voted,” she said.
The award is the first of its kind hosted by a global broadcaster.
Oshoala, who was the youngest player to be shortlisted, was the leading scorer at the Under-20s female World Cup in Canada last summer and was voted the tournament’s best player.
Her brilliant performances led Nigeria to the final, where they narrowly lost to Germany, and she was also a major influence in the senior Nigerian team who won the African Women’s Championship in October 2014.
Oshoala said the honour was a big lift for Nigeria before the World Cup as it would help inspire young players in her homeland.
The reigning African Women Footballer of the Year became the first African-based footballer to play in the English Women’s Super League after joining Liverpool Ladies from Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt.
The Super Falcons’ forward’s form has blossomed since joining the Reds in January, banging two goals and creating several assists for the reigning English Women Super League champions.
Mary Hockaday, controller of BBC World Service English, paid tribute to Oshoala.
“At 20, she has proved herself a formidable talent on the pitch,” she said.
“I’m proud BBC World Service is supporting the women’s game and thrilled with the interest in the award,” Hockaday added.
Known for her superlative skills, scintillating drive on the ball and proven clinical finishing in front of goal, the former FC Robo starlet and midfield maestro will hope to achieve a more higher feat with the Super Falcons in Canada after her exceptional heroics powered Nigeria to her seventh Fifa Women’s World Cup appearance, which kicks off on 6 June in Canada.
Nigeria opens her World Cup campaign against Sweden on Monday, June 8.
Anthony Nlebem
@AnthonyNlebem
