Asisat Oshoala: 10 records that make Super Falcons star an African legend

Super Falcons legend Asisat Oshoala took the scraps and bits life dumped on her young laps and from it built a remarkable legacy in women’s football.

The journey has taken her 17 years from the moment she decided to drop out of school and pursue football professionally to becoming one of Africa’s most decorated players in history.

Now, she is a Nigerian legend, a European record holder, an African icon and an inspiration to millions of young girls across the continent.

The Super Falcons striker has collected major honours, broken barriers and delivered performances that have changed perceptions of African women’s football.

These 10 extraordinary records explain why Oshoala stands tallest among the greatest African female footballers of all time.

Asisat Oshoala’s incredible records

1. Six-time African Women’s Player of the Year

Asisat Oshoala has won the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women’s Player of the Year award six times, in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023. That is more than any other woman or man has ever managed on the continent.

She first win came at just 20, following a breakthrough year in which she starred at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and the senior Women’s World Cup.

She burst to the scene, seized the key moments and showed class and maturity beyond her young age. It was unlike anything Nigerian football had ever seen.

2. First African to play in a Women’s Champions League final

Asisat Oshoala broke new ground when she became the first African woman to feature in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final.

After spells at Robo FC, Rivers Angels, Liverpool and Arsenal, and Dalian Quanjian, Oshoala reached that landmark when she came off the bench in the 87th-minute in Barcelona’s 4-1 loss to French powerhouse Lyon in the UWCL final on May 18, 2019.

3. First African to score in the final

In that same final, Oshoala became the first African woman to score in a Women’s Champions League final.

Barely two minutes after her introduction, the powerful Super Falcons forward struck Barcelona’s only goal against Lyon. It was the club’s first-ever goal in a European final.

4. First African to win the Women’s Champions League

Barcelona lost their first final but returned two years later to seal their first triumph.

In so doing, Asisat Oshoala became the first African woman to win the Women’s Champions League.

In that 2021 final, Barcelona defeated Chelsea 4-0 in the final to catapult Oshoala into the record books again.

5. Africa's first three-time European champion

Oshoala won three Women’s Champions League titles with Barcelona, making her the most successful African player in the competition’s history.

Her second title arrived in 2023, as she was a crucial member of the squad that staged a dramatic comeback to defeat VfL Wolfsburg 3-2 in the final in Eindhoven.

Her third crown met her already in the books of American club Bay FC. But because Oshoala featured in two group games and scored against Benfica before her departure, her winner’s medal was correctly addressed to her.

6. First African woman nominated for the Ballon d’Or

Oshoala became the first African woman nominated for the Ballon d’Or Féminin, earning recognition in 2022 and 2023.

She finished 16th in 2022 and 20th in 2023, the only Nigerian woman so honoured and one of only a handful all over the country to have been so recognised.

7. First Nigerian to score at three consecutive Women’s World Cups

Oshoala made history by scoring at three successive editions of the Women’s World Cup.

Her debut World Cup goal arrived at the 2015 edition in Canada during a thrilling 3-3 draw against Sweden in the group stage. Oshoala also scored at the 2019 World Cup in France, netting a memorable goal in the 75th minute to secure a 2-0 victory over South Korea which helped Nigeria advance to the knockout stages.

Oshoala hit the milestone at the 2023 World Cup when she came off the bench to score the decisive 72nd-minute winner in a spectacular 3-2 upset victory against co-hosts Australia.

8. First African winner of Spain’s women’s league Golden Boot

Oshoala is also the first African woman to finish as the top scorer in Spain’s Liga F, earning the Pichichi Trophy in the 2021-22 season.

Asisat Oshoala registered 20 goals in only 19 appearances to win the golden boot for the league’s top scorer during the 2021–22 Liga F season.

Her goals helped FC Barcelona Femení complete a historic, flawless domestic campaign, winning all 30 of their league matches.

9. A trailblazer in England’s Women’s Super League

Asisat Oshoala joined Liverpool in 2015, becoming the first African woman to play in England’s Women’s Super League.

That move from Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt to England was reportedly the biggest transfer in history for a Nigerian female football player up to that point.

10. The Golden Boot and Golden Ball double

The stunning Asisat Oshoala journey started at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada.

Barely two months to her 20th birthday, Oshoala stole the highlights as she powered a less-fancied Nigeria Falconets to the final of the tournament.

She scored seven goals in only five games as Nigeria reached the title decider before losing to Germany.

Despite being on the losing side, Oshoala picked up the two most prestigious individual honours; the Golden Boot as the tournament’s leading scorer and the Golden Ball as its outstanding player.