Oshoala is Nigeria’s most decorated woman footballer in history and the first African woman to play in the English League
By Kehinde Okeowo
Super Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala has been recognised by the Women’s International Champions Cup (WICC) for advancing women’s soccer.
Oshoala was named to the third annual WICC Best XI on Monday, with the Barcelona forward joining England national team coach, Sarina Wiegman, journalists Jeff Kassouf and Anna Kessel, U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone and Ally Chief Marketing Officer, Andrea Brimmer on the award list.
Two activists, Asma Mirzae and Fran Hilton, were also honoured, as were Angel City co-founder Kara Nortman and Kansas City Current co-founder Angie Long.
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Recognising the contribution of Oshoala and the other awardees, the head of the WICC, Susie Fiore said, “The winners work tirelessly to champion the women’s game, often in spite of great obstacles.
“Without the contributions of the 2022 honorees, the women’s game would not have the explosive growth that we’re seeing today.”
Oshoala is Nigeria’s most decorated woman footballer in history and the first African woman to play in the English league, featuring for Liverpool and Arsenal and winning the 2015 Women’s FA Cup with the Gunners
A record five-time winner of the African Women’s Footballer of the Year award, Oshoala was the first African to score a goal in a UEFA Women’s Champions League final.
Last year, the 28-year-old became the first African woman to win the UEFA Champions League. She is also the first African woman to win the Primera División’s Pichichi Trophy.
Oshoala is a three-time winner of the African Women’s Championship, claiming the titles in 2014, 2016, and 2018 and winning the competition’s golden boot award in two of those editions.
In August 2022, she became the first African woman nominated to the Ballon d’Or.
