Asisat Oshoala surpasses Eto’o, Nkwocha to become Africa’s most decorated ever

Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala further endeared herself as one of the greatest female footballers to emerge from Africa after she claimed a 5th CAF Women’s Player of the Year crown in the event held in Rabat, Morocco. The FC Barcelona Femeni star has become Africa’s most decorated female player at both individual and collective levels.

Oshoala was voted as the continent’s best player for the year 2022 after beating competition from Cameroon forward Ajara Njoya Nchout and Zambia’s Grace Chanda. The 27-year-old striker enjoyed a successful season with FC Barcelona Femeni despite having her season cut in half by a series of injuries. The former Liverpool and Arsenal star finished as the Pichichi winner in the Liga Iberdrola despite playing only about half of the matches as her FC Barcelona Femeni side cruised to the title in style. She also won the treble with her club in the 2020-21 season, although the award was not handed out in 2021.

Asisat Oshoala won her first CAF Women’s Player of the Year award in 2014 before winning the laurel again in 2016, 2017, and 2019. The Super Falcons star was part of Nigeria’s squad to the 2022 WAFCON in Morocco before an unfortunate knee injury ended her participation in the tournament’s first game. Oshoala endured a tough 2022 due to her recurring injury problems but stated that the year 2022 had been one in which she has learned a lot.

By winning her fifth CAF Women’s Player of the Year crown, Asisat Oshoala has now surpassed compatriot Patricia Nkwocha and Cameroonian legend Samuel Eto’o (both four) as the player, male or female, with the most CAF Player of the Year awards. The former FC Robo forward has added another to her impressive list of records, staking her claim as one of the greatest female African footballers of all time. Her fellow Super Falcons will take to the pitch tomorrow against Zambia as they bid to win the bronze medal at the 2022 WAFCON.