Asisat Oshoala named African Footballer of the Year for an unprecedented fifth time

SUPER Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala has made history by winning the 2022 Confederation of African Football female Player of the Year becoming the first person ever to win the accolade for a record fifth time.

Oshoala, 27, who plays for Spanish giants Barcelona, has now broken the record of compatriot Perpetual Nkwocha, who was voted African Footballer of the Year four times. Last season, Oshoala helped Barcelona seal an unprecedented La Liga Femini and Copa de la Reina triumph.

However, she narrowly missed out on being the first Super Falcons player to win the Women’s Champions League after Barcelona lost to Lyon in the final. Oshoala was the only Nigerian present in the three-woman shortlist for the female player of the year award but she was huge favourite ahead of Ajara Nchout Njoya of Cameroon and Grace Chanda of Zambia.

This year's Confederation of Football (Caf) awards ceremony was held in Rabat, Morocco which is currently hosting the Women's African Cup of Nations. Oshoala had to pull out of the tournament after the first game with injury, so will not be featuring fir the Falcons tonight when they play Zambia in the third play play-off.