Is Asisat Oshoala The Greatest African Female Footballer of All Time?
In the story of African women’s football, few names have commanded the stage like Asisat Lamina Oshoala. At 30 years old, the Nigerian striker has built a career that continues to inspire millions across the continent and beyond. Her journey from the streets of Lagos to becoming a global football icon reflects not just talent, but drive, sacrifice and belief.
Let me state here that only Nigerian female players can stand up for this conversation about who the greatest female footballer in African history is. Nigeria has dominated female football in Africa, and just this weekend bagged a 10th WAFCON title after a stunning victory over Morocco In Rabat.
Oshoala’s professional career began in Nigeria with FC Robo Queens, before her brilliance led her to Rivers Angels, where she quickly gained national recognition. It wasn’t long before she caught the eye of European scouts, and in 2015 she signed for Liverpool Women. That move made her the first African female footballer to play in the English top division. She later joined Arsenal, winning the FA Women’s Cup during her short but impactful spell in North London.
Her next destination was China, where she starred for Dalian Quanjian, dominating the league as top scorer and clinching two league titles. However, it was in Spain with FC Barcelona Femení that Oshoala reached new heights. During her five-year stay at the club, she scored 85 goals in 101 appearances, won five Primera División titles, two UEFA Women’s Champions League trophies, four Spanish Super Cups, and three Copa de la Reina titles. She was also the league’s top scorer in the 2021–22 season. In 2024, she made a high-profile move to Bay FC in the United States, where she continues to shine in the NWSL.
Internationally, Oshoala has been just as influential. She first represented Nigeria at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2014, where she won both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball while helping Nigeria reach the final. She made her senior team debut in 2013 and has since scored 37 goals in over 60 appearances for the Super Falcons. She has lifted the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) four times and was a key figure in Nigeria’s stunning comeback win over Morocco in the 2024 WAFCON final, where the Falcons secured their record-extending 10th continental crown.
With six African Women Footballer of the Year awards to her name, Oshoala is the most decorated female footballer in African history. She was named African Youth Player of the Year in 2014, received the Queen of the Pitch award the same year, and has finished as top scorer in leagues across three different continents. These accolades, along with her honours at both club and international levels, have made her not just a standout athlete, but a symbol of African excellence in women’s football.
But when it comes to the question of whether she is the greatest African female footballer of all time, it sparks healthy debate — particularly when names like Perpetua Nkwocha are mentioned. Nkwocha, a Super Falcons legend from the early 2000s, scored over 80 goals in less than 100 appearances and holds the record for most goals scored in WAFCON history. Her performance in the 2004 final against Cameroon, where she scored four goals, remains one of the most dominant displays in African football. Nkwocha was more than a goal scorer; her movement, creativity and leadership made her a complete forward who inspired a generation, and to this day, she is Nigeria’s all-time top scorer.
Even before Nkwocha, there were pioneers who shaped the early identity of the Super Falcons. Florence Omagbemi captained Nigeria in the late 90s and later coached the team to WAFCON glory. Goalkeeper Ann Chiejine, midfielder Rita Nwadike, and Florence “Showemimo” were key members of the early squads that competed in the 1991 and 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cups. Chioma Ajunwa, who also featured in that first World Cup squad, later won Nigeria’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in long jump, becoming the only woman in history to compete at both the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics as a track and field athlete.
Then came players like Mercy Akide, who dominated the late 90s and early 2000s. Her pace, power and influence off the pitch helped popularise women’s football in Nigeria. Akide was followed by talented names like Stella Mbachu, Maureen Mmadu, Yinka Kudaisi, Patience Avre, and the late Ifeanyi Chiejine, all of whom carried the Super Falcons through a golden period of continental dominance.
The greatness of these women cannot be understated. They laid the groundwork for the rise of modern stars like Oshoala, who is a product of their legacy. However, Asisat’s achievements have taken the game to unprecedented levels for an African female footballer. Her success across Nigeria, England, China, Spain and now the United States, combined with her leadership and impact for the national team, makes a compelling case for her being the greatest.
Despite swirling rumours after the 2024 WAFCON final suggesting she might retire from international football, Oshoala quickly dismissed them. Speaking to journalists in Morocco, she said, “I don’t know where that came from. I get it, but I’m not bothered. I’m still here. I’m still playing. I’m still doing my job. That’s what I’m focused on.”
Indeed, she is still here. Still scoring. Still leading. Still inspiring.
Whether Asisat Oshoala is the greatest African female footballer of all time might remain a matter of opinion, especially in the hearts of fans who grew up watching the likes of Perpetua Nkwocha or Mercy Akide. But if greatness is measured by trophies, global recognition, consistency at the highest level, and impact beyond the pitch, then there is little doubt that the girl from Ikorodu, fondly called “Agba Baller,” has earned her place at the very top.
