The former Super Falcons captain wins the award despite an injury-troubled campaign.
Super Falcons of Nigeria and FC Barcelona Femini forward Asisat Oshoala, made history on the night of Thursday, July 21, 2022, after becoming the first African football player to win the Africa Women’s Player of the Year award five times.
Oshoala clinched the prestigious prize ahead of Cameroun/Inter Milan’s AjaraNchoutNjoya and Zambia/BIIK Kazygurt star Grace Chanda at the CAF Awards held in Rabat, Morocco. The former Liverpool FC star overtook ex-Nigerian international Perpetua Nkwocha who won the award on four occasions during her playing days.
Oshoala, 27, shone brightly for FC Barcelona Femini in the 2021/2022 season despite a series of injuries which has seen her fail to feature regularly for the national team. She was instrumental in Barcelona’s treble-winning campaign (Spanish Women’s Super Cup, Copa de la Reina, and the Primera Division). Oshoala finished the season as joint top scorer with Brazil’s Geyse Ferreira after netting 20 goals in 19 league outings for the Catalonia side. While Oshoala hit the top scorer with 19 games, the Brazilian needed 27 games to equal the goal tally of the reigning Africa Women’s Footballer of the Year. A hat-trick against Real Betis and braces against Real Sociedad, Valencia, Villarreal, and Real Betis put her at the fore of winning the prize.
The Nigerian also scored in her only Copa de la Reina appearance for Barcelona against fierce rivals Real Madrid. Barcelona could have won a quadruple if not for the 3-1 loss to French league giants Olympique Lyonnais in the final of the UEFA Women’s Champions League played at the Juventus Stadium, Turin.
Super Zee as she is fondly called by fans is the fourth Nigerian to win the award after the likes of Mercy Akide in 2001, Perpetua Nkwocha(2004, 2005, 2010 & 2011), and Cynthia Uwak (2006 & 2007).
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