Asisat Lamina Oshoala OON (born 9 October 1994) is a Nigerian striker for Al Hilal and the Nigeria national team. She has won African Women’s Footballer of the Year a record six times and is one of the most celebrated African female footballers of all time. This article covers her biography, early life, club and international career, personal life (including her relationship status), style of play, philanthropy, awards and net worth.
Early Life and Background
Asisat Lamina Oshoala OON was born on 9 October 1994 in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria. She stands at 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in). She grew up in a Yoruba Muslim family. Her father is Alhaji Oshoala and her mother is Iya Asisa. Her parents initially opposed her pursuing football, preferring she focus on education. She attended Air Force Primary School in Victoria Island, Lagos, and later Aunty Ayo International School in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Youth and Early Career
Oshoala began her football journey at FC Robo in Mushin, Lagos (2009–2013). She then moved to Nigerian club Rivers Angels (2013–2015), where she won the Nigerian Women’s Cup in 2013 and 2014 and the Nigerian Women’s Championship in 2014.
Club Career
Liverpool (2015–2016)
On 23 January 2015, Oshoala signed with Liverpool in England’s Women’s Super League, becoming the first player from an African nation to compete in England’s top women’s league. Although she missed two months of the 2015 season with a knee injury, she scored 3 goals in 9 games. Her first goal was the opener in a 2–1 win against Birmingham City on 1 April. She also scored against Manchester City and Arsenal.
Arsenal (2016)
In March 2016, Oshoala signed with Arsenal. The manager praised her pace, excellent feet and goal-scoring ability. She made 13 appearances and scored 2 goals. She helped Arsenal win the 2016 FA Women’s Cup, the club’s 14th title, scoring the winning goal in the 2–0 win against Notts County on 28 August.
Dalian Quanjian (2017–2019)
On 10 February 2017, Oshoala signed with Chinese club Dalian Quanjian. In the 2017 season, she scored 12 goals and won the league championship and the Golden Boot. She also scored four goals during the 2017 Women’s Super Cup and helped the club defeat Shanghai 5–3. In October 2018, she helped the club win the league championship again.
FC Barcelona Femení (2019–2024)
On 31 January 2019, Barcelona signed Oshoala on a loan deal and on 31 May 2019 made the move permanent and extended until 2022 (later 2024). She scored 7 goals in 7 appearances in the 2018-19 season. She scored Barcelona’s only goal in the 2019 UEFA Women’s Champions League Final, becoming the first African (and Nigerian) player to score in a Champions League Final.
On 16 May 2021, she became the first African woman to win the UEFA Women’s Champions League with Barcelona’s 4–0 win over Chelsea. She made 162 appearances and scored 117 goals, becoming the club’s fourth-highest goalscorer in history. She won 14 trophies with Barcelona, including multiple league titles, the Champions League, Copa de la Reina and Supercopa de España Femenina.
In the 2021-22 season, she won the Primera División’s Pichichi Trophy (Top Scorer), and in August 2022, she became the first African woman nominated to the Ballon d’Or Féminin.
Bay FC (2024–2025)
On 1 February 2024, Barcelona and Bay FC announced Oshoala had joined the NWSL club Bay FC. On her NWSL debut, she scored Bay FC’s first goal in a 1–0 win against Angel City.
Al Hilal (2025-Present)
On 2 September 2025, Oshoala signed for Saudi Women’s Premier League club Al Hilal.
International Career
Oshoala made her senior debut for Nigeria in a friendly defeat by Japan in September 2013, under coach Edwin Okon.
In the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, she was the tournament’s top scorer and named best player. In the same year’s African Women’s Championship, she was named best player and second-highest goal scorer as Nigeria won.
On 8 June 2015, she scored her first World Cup goal in a 3–3 draw with Sweden at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Nigeria also won the African Women’s Championship in 2016 and 2018; she scored three goals in the 2018 edition in Ghana.
In the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, she was vice-captain; she scored in the 2-0 win vs South Korea and was named Player of the Match; her goal was nominated for Goal of the Tournament.
On 27 July 2023, she came on as a substitute vs Australia at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and scored the third goal of a 3–1 win, making her the first Nigerian and African player to score in three consecutive Women’s World Cups (2015, 2019, 2023).
She was included in the squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics and the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) scheduled for July 2025.
Style of Play
Oshoala plays primarily as a forward, though early in her career she also featured as an attacking midfielder. She is known for her speed, strength, finishing ability and versatility. Nicknames include “Àgba Baller” (which in her local parlance means Legendary Footballer), “Superzee”, and she has at times been compared to Clarence Seedorf (hence “Seedorf”).
Marriage, Husband & Daughter
As of now, Asisat Oshoala is single and not married. She has previously addressed rumours linking her to Nigerian footballer Abu Abolaji Azeez, clarifying they are not a couple. She is a proud mother to a daughter born in 2019, though the father’s identity remains private. Her upbringing in a polygamous Muslim family and early parental concerns about her career shaped her values.
Philanthropy and Advocacy
In 2019, Oshoala launched the Asisat Oshoala Foundation, focused on empowering girl footballers in Africa. She also hosts the annual Football4Girls tournament in Lagos via her foundation. She is a Nike ambassador and in October 2021, she was appointed to FIFA’s Technical Advisory Group on the Growth and Advancement of Women’s Football.
Awards, Honours and Records
She has won the African Women’s Footballer of the Year award a record six times. She became the first African woman to win the UEFA Women’s Champions League and the first to do so three times by 2024. Her club honours span Nigeria, China, Spain and the USA. Individually, she has earned Golden Boots, best-player awards, and top scorer titles such as the Primera División Pichichi Trophy (2021-22), Chinese Women’s Super League Golden Boot (2017), FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Golden Boot & Golden Ball (2014) and BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year (2015).
Net Worth and Earnings
Her estimated net worth is around US$1 million to $5 million. Reports suggest a weekly salary of approximately £10,500 (≈ £40,000 monthly) at one stage.
Social Media and Influence
Oshoala was the first African female footballer to surpass one million followers on Instagram. She uses her platform to advocate for women’s football and the empowerment of girls worldwide.
Article updated 2 weeks ago ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
