The Barcelona Femeni star has no equal on the African continent and is also one of the best in the world, but she did not have it easy early in her career
Asisat Oshoala says that she went through many difficulties before her career finally kicked off, but during that challenging period, six songs kept her alive.
The Barcelona star revealed songs from 2Baba, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Phyno and Psquare are the six tracks that keep her going in tough times.
Oshoala came into the limelight at the 2014 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where she finished as the top scorer and the best player at the tournament.
A year after the tournament, Oshoala signed for Liverpool Ladies, where she spent a year before signing for Arsenal Ladies, staying for another year.
It was hoped the move to England would set off Oshoala’s career, but she revealed it was tough for her and it was the songs on her playlist that kept her strong.
Speaking about the top six songs that shaped her life on FIFA Playon Podcast, Oshoala said: I mean it quite emotional for me because it made me think back.
I started remembering how things were difficult. I had to like leave my family, create my own space, create my happiness even out of nothing.
So for me, I just had to flashback and started picking songs that as of that period were the banging songs. That kept me going. That built me up. So that was how I picked mine.
2baba’s Ifana Ibaga is the number one song on Oshoala’s playlist, and it was a song she could relate to at that time in her life.
“I think during that period, the song was more like an inspirational song to have. I was quite young, anyways. It was just the lyrics.
“Then, when the video came out, I watched it, I could relate with the video and the words. It was more like a thing that actually fit into my day to day life during that period.
Other songs on Oshoala’s playlist is Wizkid’s Ojuelegba, Tiwa Savage’s Dangerous Love, Psquare’s E no Easy and Bring it on, and Phyno and Olamide’s Fada Fada.
Speaking on why she chose Psquare’s E no Easy, the Super Falcons star said: “It was difficult because, at that point when I finished from school, my mom always wanted me at her shop, and then my dad never wanted me to play football.
Fada Fada is the final song on Oshoala’s playlist, and she said it was her thanksgiving song following her struggles at Arsenal.
“It was after I moved from Arsenal to China. It was a bit rough at Arsenal because I did not get enough playing time.
“It was really difficult when I stayed in London. I was not happy, but I got my confidence back in China, Oshoala concluded.