Nigerian and Liverpool footballer Asisat Oshoala has won the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year. The 20-year-old striker is the first player to win the new award from the BBC World Service which is voted for by football fans around the world.
The winner was revealed on World Have Your Say on the BBC World Service. Oshoala, who is already in Canada ahead of the World Cup, was presented with the award by the BBC’s Caroline Rigby, project lead on BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year, and the programme also included interviews with Edwin Okon, Head coach of the Nigeria senior women national team, and Nigeria Captain Evelyn Nwabuoku. Former Liverpool captain,Steven Gerrard, also sent his congratulations.
Oshoala was voted the winner from a shortlist of some of the top names in women’s football that included Verónica Boquete(Spain and FFC Frankfurt), Nadine Kessler(Germany and VFL Wolfsburg), Kim Little(Scotland and Seattle Reign FC) and Marta (Brazil and FC Rosengard).
Oshoala signed for Liverpool Ladies in January 2015, with Manager Matt Beard. She is also the first African to feature in the Women’s Super League.
