Will Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala receive Champions League medal despite leaving for the USA before Barcelona’s win?

Barcelona Women secured a 2-0 victory over Lyon Women in the final of the Champions League to clinch their winners medal in four years on Saturday, Soccernet.ng reports. 

The defending champions took the lead on 63 minutes courtesy of Aitana Bonmati’s clever run and finish before teammate Alexia Putellas sealed victory from close range in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala probably watched the match from her TV screen 9,000km away in California, having left Barcelona in January to join Bay FC in the United States.

Oshoala was part of Barcelona’s first two title-winning campaigns in the Champions League from start to finish.

The Nigeria international scored four goals as Barca lifted the club’s maiden Champions League trophy in 2021 after beating Chelsea 4-0 in the final.

After failing to retain their title in 2022, Barcelona returned the following year to secure their second honours, by defeating VfL Wolfsburg 3-2 inside the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven.

Oshoala contributed five goals to that Barcelona campaign, with her haul bettered only by the nine goals netted by Wolfsburg’s Ewa Pajor.

The 29-year-old started the 2023/24 season with Barcelona, netting six goals in nine league games and once in two Champions League appearances before she left for Bay FC in January.

 

Despite her departure, Barcelona still had enough resources to go all the way and claim a memorable third Champions League triumph.

There were concerns that despite her involvement in part to Barcelona’s success, Oshoala may not be entitled to a winners medal.

But the Super Falcons forward out those worries to bed when she made it clear via her social media account that Barcelona would ship her third Champions League medal to her in the coming days.

The former Arsenal attacker becomes the first African footballer – male or female – to claim three Champions League gold medals.

Oshoala won 14 titles including four Primera División honours during her successful five-year stint at Barcelona.