Nigeria’s first Liverpool star hits hat-trick as Al Hilal reach Saudi Women’s Cup final

Former Arsenal forward Asisat Oshoala struck a superb hat-trick to power Al Hilal to a commanding 5-1 win over Al Qadsiah which booked their place in the Saudi Women’s Cup final, Soccernet.ng reports.

The Super Falcons striker was the clear difference between both sides as Al Hilal completed a commanding 7-2 aggregate victory over the two-legged semi-final tie.

Carrying a narrow 2-1 lead into the second leg, Al Hilal produced a far more ruthless performance away from home, with Oshoala once again leading from the front.

Her latest hat-trick means she has now scored 23 goals and provided six assists in all competitions this season. Even more impressive is her recent consistency. Oshoala, the first Nigerian woman to play for Liverpool in the WSL, has now scored in four straight matches and has recorded at least one goal contribution in each of her last six appearances. It is a pointer to why she has quickly become one of the most feared attackers in the Saudi Women’s Premier League.

The breakthrough arrived in the 36th minute after a patient spell of Al Hilal possession. Former France international Kheira Hamraoui spotted Oshoala in space outside the area, and the Nigerian forward responded with a powerful right-footed strike that flew beyond the goalkeeper.

That goal immediately shifted the momentum of the contest. Just two minutes later, Portuguese winger Jéssica Silva doubled Al Hilal’s lead after racing onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Al Bandari Mobarak during a quick counter-attack.

Al Qadsiah briefly threatened a comeback when Cameroon international Ajara Nchout reduced the deficit in the 42nd minute. However, the home side’s hopes lasted only moments. Oshoala struck again before half-time, finishing another rapid breakaway move to restore Al Hilal’s two-goal cushion and place the tie firmly under their control heading into the interval.

Oshoala’s Saudi impact continues to grow

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Al Hilal remaining sharper, faster and more dangerous in transition. Oshoala completed her hat-trick in the 73rd minute after once again linking effectively with Al Bandari Mobarak. The Nigerian calmly slotted home from the left side of the penalty area to put the result beyond doubt.

Her influence did not end there. In the closing moments, Oshoala drove into the box and won a penalty after being fouled in the 89th minute. Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak converted deep into stoppage time to complete the 5-1 victory and cap another dominant night for Al Hilal.

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The result sends Al Hilal into the Saudi Women’s Cup final, where they will face either Al Ula Women or Al Nassr Women as they continue their pursuit of silverware this season.

Oshoala's performance was another reminder of how quickly she has adapted since leaving the NWSL side Bay FC to join Al Hilal in September 2025. Questions initially surrounded how the former FC Barcelona Femení star would settle into a new environment and league, but her numbers have answered those doubts emphatically.

She won the Saudi Women’s Premier League Player of the Month award in September after scoring three goals and providing two assists in her opening three league matches. Since then, she has continued to dominate defenders with her movement, pace and finishing.

One of her standout league displays arrived on April 23, when she scored twice and registered an assist during a 5-0 victory over Eastern Flames. She has also become central to Al Hilal’s cup run, having already scored back-to-back hat-tricks earlier in the competition.

Those performances explain why Al Hilal remain firmly in contention for a major honour despite narrowly missing out in the Saudi Women’s Premier Challenge Cup earlier this year.