There’s little debate that Asisat Oshoala is one of the most celebrated footballers in Nigerian and African history.
Her accolades and achievements, both at club and international levels, speak volumes about her legacy. Yet, as she approaches the twilight of her career, questions linger about her impact on the Super Falcons and what the future holds for the team’s attack.
Oshoala’s career is studded with historic milestones. She is the only woman to win the African Women’s Footballer of the Year award six times, the first African player to score in a UEFA Women’s Champions League final, not to forget that she’s the first African woman to score in three FIFA World Cups (2015, 2019 and 2023).
Magical for club and country
With 117 goals in 162 appearances during a five-year stint at Barcelona, Oshoala cemented herself as one of the club's all-time greats, helping them claim 14 trophies, including two trebles.
Now plying her trade at Bay FC in the NWSL, she remains a key player. In her debut season, she led the San Francisco-based club to the playoffs with eight goals and one assist, proving she still has the hunger to perform at the highest level.
For Nigeria, Oshoala has been nothing short of legendary. She announced herself to the world as the best player at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, where she won the Golden Boot and Golden Ball awards.
She has helped the Super Falcons clinch three Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) titles, scoring pivotal goals in key moments of those campaigns.
In her 65 caps for Nigeria, Oshoala has scored 37 goals, including strikes in the FIFA Women’s World Cup and multiple WAFCON tournaments. Yet, despite her stellar past, her recent form for the national team has been a shadow of her earlier brilliance.
Oshoala's declining influence with Super Falcons
Since making her debut in 2013, Oshoala has been Nigeria’s go-to forward, leading the line with relentless energy and clinical finishing.
However, over the past three years, her output has waned. She has scored only three international goals in this period, with her strikes coming in friendlies and tournaments, such as the 3-2 win over Australia at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 4-0 thrashing of Ethiopia in October 2023.
More concerning than the lack of goals is her visible lack of urgency on the pitch. Where Oshoala once terrorized defenses with her high-pressing game and tireless work rate, she now often appears disengaged, leaving younger teammates to shoulder the attacking burden.
Super Falcons’ changing dynamics and a managed transition
The Super Falcons’ recent games suggest a shift in focus toward younger talents. Players like Flourish Sebastine, Folashade Ijamilusi, Uchenna Kanu, and Gift Monday have impressed with their dynamism and work ethic.
This shift has coincided with Oshoala’s exclusion from key fixtures, such as the Paris Olympics qualifiers (even the opening game of the Mundial) and the October-November 2024 friendlies against Algeria and France, where head coach Justin Madugwu opted for fresh faces.
Nigeria's 4-1 and 2-0 victories over Algeria in recent friendlies demonstrated that the team could thrive without Oshoala. The same is evident in the toplfght leagues across Europe, America and Africa, highlighting the potential of the emerging generation of Super Falcons attackers.
At 30, Oshoala remains an influential figure off the pitch, offering experience and leadership. However, as Nigeria prepares to reclaim their WAFCON title in Morocco next summer, a gradual transition may be on the horizon.
The emergence of younger, hungrier forwards is signalling the beginning of the end for Oshoala’s reign as Nigeria’s talisman.
