Asisat Oshoala, the superstar striker of Nigeria and Barcelona, was honoured as the 2022 African Women’s Player of the Year at the Caf Awards ceremony on Thursday, July 21, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 27-year-old won the honour ahead of Grace Chanda of Zambia and Ajara Nchout Njoya of Cameroon and Inter Milan (Zambia and BIIK Kazygurt).
With this, she surpasses Perpetua Nkwocha, who had won the honour four times, and becomes the first African to take home the prestigious award a record five times.
The 2021-22 campaign was arguably Oshoala’s best yet as she played a key role in her Spanish side’s treble charge – the Spanish Women’s Super Cup, Copa de la Reina and the Primera Division.
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Even though she missed a few games due to injury, she still managed to score 20 goals in 19 league games to tie Brazilian Geyse Ferreira for the league’s best scorer award. Ferreira scored the same number of goals for Madrid CFF in 27 appearances.
Oshoala scored impressive goals against Real Sociedad, Valencia, Villarreal, and Real Betis, including a hat-trick and a double.
She scored against Real Madrid in her lone outing in the Copa de la Reina.
Her side could have won a quadruple, but Barcelona lost 3-1 to Olympique Lyonnais at the Juventus Stadium in Turin.
Lull On International Front
Oshoala made little of an impact internationally because she failed to score a goal for the Super Falcons throughout the time period under consideration.
To make matters worse, she strained her medial collateral ligament during Nigeria’s 2-1 loss to South Africa in Rabat, forcing her to withdraw from the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2022.
Following in the footsteps of Mercy Akide (2001), Nkwocha (2004, 2005, 2010 & 2011), and Cynthia Uwak, Oshoala is the fourth Nigerian woman to win the women’s version of the prize (2006 & 2007).
Women’s Awards in Full
Club of the Year (Women) – Mamelodi Sundowns
Interclub Player of the Year (Women) – Evelyn Badu (Ghana & Sekondi Hasaacas Ladies/Alvaldsnes)
Young Player of the Year (Women) – Evelyn Badu (Ghana & Sekondi Hasaacas Ladies/Alvaldsnes)
Coach of the Year (Women) – Desiree Ellis (South Africa)
