How Asisat Oshoala Rewrites the Story of Women Football in Nigeria

 The World Most Valuable Woman U-20 footballer, just got upgraded to the senior ranks. She is now Africa’s best.

Asisat Oshoala who was invited into Nigeria senior national team – Super Falcons, after she put up an outstanding performance at the FIFA U-20 Women World Cup in Canada, where she won both the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot Award, shone like a million star at the just concluded African Women Championship (AWC) in Namibia.

The Nigerian fast paced attacking midfielder again won the Golden Ball Award as the best player and also became the second highest goal scorer with 4 goals in the championship. Team mate, Desire Oparanozie, won the Golden Boot Award, having scored 5 goals.

Oshoala’s assist helped Super Falcons of Nigeria reclaim the AWC title for the 7^th time and became African women Champions once again. This also ensured that the team qualified for 2015 FIFA Women World Cup in Canada.

  I personally think Oshoala should be at the Ballon d’Or, perhaps by next year. Her exploits has put Nigerian women football on the spotlight – the world is waiting to see what Super Falcons will perform in Canada 2015. With players like Oshoala, Oparanozie, Perpetual Nkwocha… you can be rest assured the team can turn the table around and rewrite world women football history.

Super Falcon has recently been at the forefront of several discussions, especially now the Super Eagles (Nigeria Men National team) has started to blow hot and cold, and may likely not qualify for AFCON 2015. Some sport analysts are of the opinion that Super Falcons is now a better brand to sell to the world.

And Oshoala is become a big brand, a household name in Nigeria. I expect that a lot of corporate sponsors should be lining up by now to endorse the Rivers Angels Star. In case you didn’t know, Oshoala should be bagging many more Awards in the following months. I can sure predict the following:

• Oshoala – Africa’s Woman footballer of the Year 2014

• Oshoala – Nigeria’s Woman footballer of the Year 2014

• Oshoala – Nigeria’s Sports Person of the Year 2014

Tell me who will beat her to the awards? Oshoala is now the most beautiful bride in world football. Clubs like Ajax, Barcelona, and Arsenal women team are wooing her seriously.

Well, the story would have been much more interesting to tell, if all that is happening to Oshoala is also positively affecting her team mates at Rivers Angels – The Nigerian Women’s League is in dare need of Attention – I mean, serious attention! You never can tell how many more Oshoalas are yet uncovered in the shabbily organized league.